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Zhuo Z, Nie J, Xie B, Wang F, Shi M, Jiang Y, Zhu W. A comprehensive study of Ephedra sinica Stapf-Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill herb pair on airway protection in asthma. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2024; 322:117614. [PMID: 38113990 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2023.117614] [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: 11/04/2023] [Revised: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Ephedra sinica Stapf (Mahuang) and Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill (Wuweizi) are commonly utilized in traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of cough and asthma. The synergistic effect of Mahuang-Wuweizi herb pair enhances their efficacy in alleviating respiratory symptoms, making them extensively employed in the management of respiratory disorders. Although previous studies have demonstrated the therapeutic potential of Mahuang-Wuweizi in pulmonary fibrosis, the precise mechanism underlying their effectiveness against asthma remains elusive. AIM OF THE STUDY The objective of this study is to investigate the mechanism underlying the preventive and therapeutic effects of Mahuang-Wuweizi herb pair on asthma progression, focusing on airway inflammation and airway remodeling. MATERIALS AND METHODS The active constituents and potential mechanisms of Mahuang-Wuweizi in the management of asthma were elucidated through network pharmacology analysis. Liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was used to detect the main components of Mahuang-Wuweizi decoction. A rat model of bronchial asthma was established, and the effects of Mahuang-Wuweizi were investigated using hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining, immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), Western blotting (WB), and real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). RESULTS The results of network pharmacological prediction showed that Mahuang had 22 active components and Wuweizi had 8 active components, with 225 potential targets. 1159 targets associated with asthma and 115 targets that overlap between drugs and diseases were identified. These include interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor (TNF), Tumor Protein 53, interleukin-1β (IL-1β), as well as other essential targets. Additionally, there is a potential correlation between asthma and Phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI3K)/Protein Kinase B (AKT) signaling pathway, calcium ion channels, nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway, and other signaling pathways. The animal experiment results demonstrated that treatment with Mahuang and Wuweizi, in comparison to the model group, exhibited improvements in lung tissue pathological injury, reduction in collagen fiber accumulation around the airway and proliferation of airway smooth muscle, decrease in concentration levels of IL-6, TNF-α and IL-1β in lung tissue, as well as alleviation of airway inflammation. Furthermore, Mahuang and Wuweizi suppressed the expression of phospholipase C (PLC), transient receptor potential channel 1 (TRPC1), myosin light chain kinase (MLCK), NF-κB P65 protein in ovalbumin (OVA)-sensitized rat lung tissue and downregulated the mRNA expression of PLC, TRPC1, PI3K, AKT, NF-κB P65 in asthmatic rats. These findings were consistent with network pharmacological analysis. CONCLUSION The results show that the synergistic interaction between Mahuang and Wuweizi occur, and they can effectively reduce airway remodeling and airway inflammation induced by inhaling OVA in bronchial asthma rats by inhibiting the expression of PLC/TRPC1/PI3K/AKT/NF-κB signaling pathway. Therefore, Mahuang and Wuweizi may be potential drugs to treat asthma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zushun Zhuo
- Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanchang, 330004, Jiangxi Province, China.
| | - Jianhua Nie
- Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanchang, 330004, Jiangxi Province, China.
| | - Bin Xie
- Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanchang, 330004, Jiangxi Province, China.
| | - Fei Wang
- Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanchang, 330004, Jiangxi Province, China.
| | - Min Shi
- Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanchang, 330004, Jiangxi Province, China.
| | - Yini Jiang
- Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanchang, 330004, Jiangxi Province, China.
| | - Weifeng Zhu
- Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanchang, 330004, Jiangxi Province, China.
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Gong W, Chen J, Xu S, Li Y, Zhou Y, Qin X. The regulatory effect of Angelicae Sinensis Radix on neuroendocrine-immune network and sphingolipid metabolism in CUMS-induced model of depression. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2024; 319:117217. [PMID: 37769886 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2023.117217] [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: 08/22/2023] [Revised: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Conventional antidepressants therapy remains unsatisfactory due to the disadvantages of delayed clinical onset of action and side effects. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) with good efficacy and higher safety have received much attention. Angelicae Sinensis Radix (AS), a well-known TCM, has been proved to exhibit the efficacy of antidepression recently. AIM OF THE STUDY The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential anti-depressant mechanisms of AS based on chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) rat model. MATERIALS AND METHODS In this study, behavioral experiments, molecular biology techniques, and ultra performance liquid chromatography-triple-time of flight mass spectrometer (UPLC-Triple-TOF/MS) were combined to explore the potential antidepressant mechanisms of AS based on CUMS rat model. RESULTS The results demonstrated that AS could reduce the contents of serum hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis hormones in CUMS rats, including corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and cortisol (CORT). In addition, AS regulated the percentage of CD4+ T lymphocytes, the ratio of CD4+/CD8+, and the levels of serum cytokines such as IL-1β, IL-4, IL-6, and TNF-α in CUMS rats. Lipidomics showed that 31 lipids were related to depression and AS could regulate the lipid metabolism alteration induced by CUMS, particularly sphingolipid metabolism. Finally, the key proteins in sphingolipid metabolic pathways in hippocampus of CUMS rats could be back-regulated by AS, including serine palmitoyl transferase (SPTLC2), ceramide synthase (CerS2), sphingomyelinase (SPHK1), and neutral sphingomyelinase (nSMase). CONCLUSION AS could alleviate NEI network disorder and restore the levels of sphingolipid metabolites and key proteins in CUMS rats. The underlying mechanism by which AS relieved depression-like behavior in CUMS rats may be through modulation of NEI and disturbances in sphingolipid metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenxia Gong
- Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine of Shanxi University, China; Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, China; Key Laboratory of Effective Substances Research and Utilization in TCM of Shanxi Province, China.
| | - Jinlong Chen
- Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine of Shanxi University, China
| | - Shaohua Xu
- Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine of Shanxi University, China
| | - Yuanji Li
- State Key Laboratory of Quantum Optics and Quantum Optics Devices, Institute of Opto-Electronics, Shanxi University, China
| | - Yuzhi Zhou
- Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine of Shanxi University, China; Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, China; Key Laboratory of Effective Substances Research and Utilization in TCM of Shanxi Province, China
| | - Xuemei Qin
- Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine of Shanxi University, China; Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, China; Key Laboratory of Effective Substances Research and Utilization in TCM of Shanxi Province, China.
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Fang J, Wang L, Zhang D, Liang Y, Li S, Tian J, He Q, Jin J, Zhu W. Integrative analysis of transcriptome and metabolome provide new insights into mechanisms of Capilliposide A against cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity. J Pharm Biomed Anal 2024; 238:115814. [PMID: 37976990 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpba.2023.115814] [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: 07/12/2023] [Revised: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Cisplatin (CDDP) has been widely used for chemotherapy against tumours. However,the nephrotoxicity has limited its clinical use. Here, we reported a novel compound, Capilliposide A (CPS-A), to exhibit therapeutic effects on CDDP-induced acute kidney injury (AKI) and explored its potential mechanisms via transcriptome and metabolome. MATERIALS AND METHODS HK-2 cells were treated with CPS-A, after which cell viability, apoptosis and inflammation were investigated. A mouse model of AKI was constructed by single injection of CDDP in vivo. The renal function and morphology and mitochondrial function were assessed by pathological section and transmission electron microscope (TEM). Transcriptomics and metabolomics are used to explore possible mechanisms which was later verified in vitro. RESULTS CPS-A administration improved the survival rates of HK-2 cells with a significant decrease in the expression of KIM-1, NGAL, IL-6, IL-8 and IL-1β. In vivo results also suggested that CPS-A attenuates CDDP-induced kidney injury by reducing serum creatinine (Cr) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels. Furthermore, TEM also showed the improvement of mitochondrial ultrastructure both in vivo and vitro. Transcriptomics analysis of the mice's renal cortex indicated the expression of ATF4 and CHOP were upregulated, which was further validated by qPCR and Western blotting in vitro. Integrative analysis of transcriptome and metabolome indicated that L-Leucine enriched in Valine, leucine and isoleucine degradation might be potential targets. CONCLUSIONS CPS-A can effectively regulate endogenous metabolites associated with amino acid metabolism and ameliorate apoptosis and oxidative stress in CDDP-induced AKI by reducing endoplasmic reticulum stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaxi Fang
- Urology & Nephrology Center, Department of Nephrology, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital (Affiliated People's Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College), Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310014, China; Department of Ultrasound, Taizhou Central Hospital (Taizhou University, Hospital), Taizhou, Zhejiang, China; Department of Nephrology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, (Zhejiang Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine), Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Luping Wang
- College of Biomedicial Engineering and Instrument Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China
| | - Di Zhang
- Urology & Nephrology Center, Department of Nephrology, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital (Affiliated People's Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College), Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310014, China
| | - Yan Liang
- Urology & Nephrology Center, Department of Nephrology, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital (Affiliated People's Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College), Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310014, China
| | - Shouxin Li
- The Cancer Hospital of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Zhejiang Cancer Hospital), Institute of Basic Medicine and Cancer (IBMC), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310002, China
| | - Jingkui Tian
- The Cancer Hospital of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Zhejiang Cancer Hospital), Institute of Basic Medicine and Cancer (IBMC), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310002, China
| | - Qiang He
- Department of Nephrology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, (Zhejiang Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine), Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
| | - Juan Jin
- Department of Nephrology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, (Zhejiang Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine), Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
| | - Wei Zhu
- The Cancer Hospital of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Zhejiang Cancer Hospital), Institute of Basic Medicine and Cancer (IBMC), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310002, China.
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Liu X, Wang S, Wu X, Zhao Z, Jian C, Li M, Qin X. Astragaloside IV Alleviates Depression in Rats by Modulating Intestinal Microbiota, T-Immune Balance, and Metabolome. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2024; 72:259-273. [PMID: 38064688 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.3c04063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2024]
Abstract
This study aims to explore the effects of Astragaloside IV (AS-IV) on abnormal behaviors, intestinal microbiota, intestinal T-immune balance, and fecal metabolism of a model of depression in rats. Herein, we integrally applied 16S rRNA sequencing, molecular biological techniques, and 1H NMR-based fecal metabolomics to demonstrate the antidepression activity of AS-IV. The results suggested that AS-IV regulated the depression-like behaviors of rats, which are presented by an increase of body weight, upregulation of sucrose preference rates, and a decrease of immobility time. Additionally, AS-IV increased the abundances of beneficial bacteria (Lactobacillus and Oscillospira) in a model of depression in rats. Moreover, AS-IV regulated significantly the imbalance of Th17/Treg cells, and the abnormal contents of both anti-inflammatory factors and pro-inflammatory factors. Besides, fecal metabolomics showed that AS-IV improved the abnormal levels of short-chain fatty acids and amino acids. Collectively, our research supplemented new data, supporting the potential of AS-IV as an effective diet or diet composition to improve depression-like behaviors, dysfunctions of microbiota, imbalance of T immune, and the abnormality of fecal metabolome. However, the causality of the other actions was not proven because of the experimental design and the methodology used. The current findings suggest that AS-IV could function as a promising diet or diet composition to alleviate depressed symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaojie Liu
- Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China
- Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China
- Key Laboratory of Effective Substances Research and Utilization in TCM of Shanxi Province, Taiyuan 030006, China
| | - Senyan Wang
- Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China
- Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China
- Key Laboratory of Effective Substances Research and Utilization in TCM of Shanxi Province, Taiyuan 030006, China
| | - Xiaoling Wu
- Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China
- Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China
- Key Laboratory of Effective Substances Research and Utilization in TCM of Shanxi Province, Taiyuan 030006, China
| | - Ziyu Zhao
- Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China
- Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China
- Key Laboratory of Effective Substances Research and Utilization in TCM of Shanxi Province, Taiyuan 030006, China
| | - Chen Jian
- Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China
- Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China
- Key Laboratory of Effective Substances Research and Utilization in TCM of Shanxi Province, Taiyuan 030006, China
| | - Mengyu Li
- Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China
- Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China
- Key Laboratory of Effective Substances Research and Utilization in TCM of Shanxi Province, Taiyuan 030006, China
| | - Xuemei Qin
- Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China
- Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China
- Key Laboratory of Effective Substances Research and Utilization in TCM of Shanxi Province, Taiyuan 030006, China
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Yuan P, Chen Y, Sun T, Cui L, Wei Y, Li T, Meng Q. Exploring potential genes and mechanisms linking erectile dysfunction and depression. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2023; 14:1221043. [PMID: 38111702 PMCID: PMC10726033 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1221043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The clinical correlation between erectile dysfunction (ED) and depression has been revealed in cumulative studies. However, the evidence of shared mechanisms between them was insufficient. This study aimed to explore common transcriptomic alterations associated with ED and depression. Materials and methods The gene sets associated with ED and depression were collected from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Comparative analysis was conducted to obtain common genes. Using R software and other appropriate tools, we conducted a range of analyses, including function enrichment, interactive network creation, gene cluster analysis, and transcriptional and post-transcriptional signature profiling. Candidate hub crosslinks between ED and depression were selected after external validation and molecular experiments. Furthermore, subpopulation location and disease association of hub genes were explored. Results A total of 85 common genes were identified between ED and depression. These genes strongly correlate with cell adhesion, redox homeostasis, reactive oxygen species metabolic process, and neuronal cell body. An interactive network consisting of 80 proteins and 216 interactions was thereby developed. Analysis of the proteomic signature of common genes highlighted eight major shared genes: CLDN5, COL7A1, LDHA, MAP2K2, RETSAT, SEMA3A, TAGLN, and TBC1D1. These genes were involved in blood vessel morphogenesis and muscle cell activity. A subsequent transcription factor (TF)-miRNA network showed 47 TFs and 88 miRNAs relevant to shared genes. Finally, CLDN5 and TBC1D1 were well-validated and identified as the hub crosslinks between ED and depression. These genes had specific subpopulation locations in the corpus cavernosum and brain tissue, respectively. Conclusion Our study is the first to investigate common transcriptomic alterations and the shared biological roles of ED and depression. The findings of this study provide insights into the referential molecular mechanisms underlying the co-existence between depression and ED.
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Affiliation(s)
- Penghui Yuan
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- Department of Urology Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Yinwei Chen
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Taotao Sun
- Department of Urology Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Lingang Cui
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yinsheng Wei
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Teng Li
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Qingjun Meng
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
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Chen C, Tian J, Gao X, Qin X, Du G, Zhou Y. An integrated strategy to study the combination mechanisms of Bupleurum chinense DC and Paeonia lactiflora Pall for treating depression based on correlation analysis between serum chemical components profiles and endogenous metabolites profiles. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2023; 305:116068. [PMID: 36574791 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2022.116068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2022] [Revised: 11/28/2022] [Accepted: 12/16/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Bupleurum chinense DC-Paeonia lactiflora Pall (BCD-PLP) is a common clinical herb pair in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) prescriptions commonly used to treat depression. However, its combination mechanisms with its anti-depressive effects remain highly unclear. AIM OF THE STUDY Here, an effective strategy has been developed to study the combination mechanisms of Bupleurum chinense DC (BCD) and Paeonia lactiflora Pall (PLP) by integrating serum pharmacochemistry analysis, metabolomics technology, and molecular docking technology. MATERIALS AND METHODS First, the depression model rats were replicated by the chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) procedure, and the difference in the chemical composition in vivo before and after the combination of BCD and PLP was analyzed by integrating background subtraction and multivariate statistical analysis techniques. Then, UPLC/HRMS-based serum metabolomics was performed to analyze the synergistic effect on metabolite regulation before and after the combination of BCD and PLP. Further, the correlation analysis between the differential exogenous chemical components and the differential endogenous metabolites before and after the combination was employed to dissect the combination mechanisms from a global perspective of combining metabolomics and serum pharmacochemistry. Finally, the molecular docking between the differential chemical components and the key metabolic enzymes was applied to verify the regulatory effect of the differential exogenous chemical components on the differential endogenous metabolites. RESULTS The serum pharmacochemistry analysis results demonstrated that the combination of BCD and PLP could significantly affect the content of 10 components in BCD (including 5 prototype components were significantly decreased and 5 metabolites were significantly increased) and 8 components in PLP (including 4 prototype components and 3 metabolites were significantly increased, 1 metabolite was significantly decreased), which indicated that the combination could enhance BCD prototype components' metabolism and the absorption of the PLP prototype components. Besides, metabolomics results indicated that the BCD-PLP herb pair group significantly reversed more metabolites (8) than BCD and PLP single herb group (5 & 4) and has a stronger regulatory effect on metabolite disorders caused by CUMS. Furthermore, the correlation analysis results suggested that saikogenin F and saikogenin G were significantly positively correlated with the endogenous metabolite itaconate, an endogenous anti-inflammatory metabolite; and benzoic acid was significantly positively correlated with D-serine, an endogenous metabolite with an antidepressant effect. Finally, the molecular docking results further confirmed that the combination of BCD and PLP could affect the activities of cis-aconitic acid decarboxylase and D-amino acid oxidase by increasing the in vivo concentration of saikogenin F and benzoic acid, which further enhances its anti-inflammatory activity and anti-depressive effect. CONCLUSIONS In this study, an effective strategy has been developed to study the combination mechanisms of BCD and PLP by integrating serum pharmacochemistry analysis, multivariate statistical analysis, metabolomics technology, and molecular docking technology. Based on this strategy, the present study indicated that the combination of BCD and PLP could affect the activities of cis-aconitic acid decarboxylase and D-amino acid oxidase by increasing the concentration of saikogenin F and benzoic acid in vivo, which further enhances its anti-depressive effect. In short, this strategy will provide a reliable method for elucidating the herb-herb compatibility mechanism of TCM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Congcong Chen
- Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, The Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, Shanxi University, No. 92, Wucheng Road, Taiyuan, 030006, Shanxi, PR China; Key Laboratory of Effective Substances Research and Utilization in TCM of Shanxi Province, Shanxi University, No. 92, Wucheng Road, Taiyuan, 030006, Shanxi, PR China
| | - Junshen Tian
- Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, The Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, Shanxi University, No. 92, Wucheng Road, Taiyuan, 030006, Shanxi, PR China; Key Laboratory of Effective Substances Research and Utilization in TCM of Shanxi Province, Shanxi University, No. 92, Wucheng Road, Taiyuan, 030006, Shanxi, PR China
| | - Xiaoxia Gao
- Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, The Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, Shanxi University, No. 92, Wucheng Road, Taiyuan, 030006, Shanxi, PR China; Key Laboratory of Effective Substances Research and Utilization in TCM of Shanxi Province, Shanxi University, No. 92, Wucheng Road, Taiyuan, 030006, Shanxi, PR China
| | - Xuemei Qin
- Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, The Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, Shanxi University, No. 92, Wucheng Road, Taiyuan, 030006, Shanxi, PR China; Key Laboratory of Effective Substances Research and Utilization in TCM of Shanxi Province, Shanxi University, No. 92, Wucheng Road, Taiyuan, 030006, Shanxi, PR China
| | - Guanhua Du
- Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, The Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, Shanxi University, No. 92, Wucheng Road, Taiyuan, 030006, Shanxi, PR China; Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, PR China
| | - Yuzhi Zhou
- Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, The Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, Shanxi University, No. 92, Wucheng Road, Taiyuan, 030006, Shanxi, PR China; Key Laboratory of Effective Substances Research and Utilization in TCM of Shanxi Province, Shanxi University, No. 92, Wucheng Road, Taiyuan, 030006, Shanxi, PR China.
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GONG W, XU S, SONG Y, ZHOU Y, QIN X. Hepatic metabolomics combined with network pharmacology to reveal the correlation between the anti-depression effect and nourishing blood effect of Angelicae Sinensis Radix. Chin J Nat Med 2023; 21:197-213. [PMID: 37003642 DOI: 10.1016/s1875-5364(23)60421-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2022] [Indexed: 04/01/2023]
Abstract
Angelicae Sinensis Radix (AS) is reproted to exert anti-depression effect (ADE) and nourishing blood effect (NBE) in a rat model of depression. The correlation between the two therapeutic effects and its underlying mechanisms deserves further study. The current study is designed to explore the underlying mechanisms of correlation between the ADE and NBE of AS based on hepatic metabonomics, network pharmacology and molecular docking. According to metabolomics analysis, 30 metabolites involved in 11 metabolic pathways were identified as the potential metabolites for depression. Furthermore, principal component analysis and correlation analysis showed that glutathione, sphinganine, and ornithine were related to pharmacodynamics indicators including behavioral indicators and hematological indicators, indicating that metabolic pathways such as sphingolipid metabolism were involved in the ADE and NBE of AS. Then, a target-pathway network of depression and blood deficiency syndrome was constructed by network pharmacology analysis, where a total of 107 pathways were collected. Moreover, 37 active components obtained from Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography-Triple-Time of Flight Mass Spectrometer (UPLC-Triple-TOF/MS) in AS extract that passed the filtering criteria were used for network pharmacology, where 46 targets were associated with the ADE and NBE of AS. Pathway enrichment analysis further indicated the involvement of sphingolipid metabolism in the ADE and NBE of AS. Molecular docking analysis indciated that E-ligustilide in AS extract exhibited strong binding activity with target proteins (PIK3CA and PIK3CD) in sphingolipid metabolism. Further analysis by Western blot verified that AS regulated the expression of PIK3CA and PIK3CD on sphingolipid metabolism. Our results demonstrated that sphingolipid metabolic pathway was the core mechanism of the correlation between the ADE and NBE of AS.
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Liu X, Zhao Z, Fan Y, Zhao D, Wang Y, Lv M, Qin X. Microbiome and metabolome reveal the metabolic and microbial variations induced by depression and constipation. Psychogeriatrics 2023; 23:319-336. [PMID: 36683263 DOI: 10.1111/psyg.12934] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2022] [Revised: 12/10/2022] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Depressed patients are often accompanied with constipation symptoms, and vice versa. However, the underlying mechanisms of such a bidirectional correlation have remained elusive. We aim to reveal the possible correlations between depression and constipation from the perspectives of gut microbiome and plasma metabolome. METHODS We constructed the depressed model and the constipated model of rats, respectively. First, we measured the locomotor activity status and the gastrointestinal functions of rats. And then, nuclear magnetic resonance plasma metabolomics was applied to reveal the shared and the unique metabolites of depression and constipation. In addition, 16 S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing was used to detect the impacts of constipation and depression on gut microbiota of rats. Finally, a multiscale and multifactorial network, that is, the 'phenotypes - differential metabolites - microbial biomarkers' integrated network, was constructed to visualise the mechanisms of connections between depression and constipation. RESULTS We found that spontaneous locomotor activity and gastrointestinal functions of both depressed rats and constipated rats significantly decreased. Further, eight metabolites and 14 metabolites were associated depression and constipation, respectively. Among them, seven metabolites and four metabolic pathways were shared by constipation and depression, mainly perturbing energy metabolism and amino acid metabolism. Additionally, depression and constipation significantly disordered the functions and the compositions of gut microbiota of rats, and decreased the ratio of Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes. CONCLUSION The current findings provide multiscale and multifactorial perspectives for understanding the correlations between depression and constipation, and demonstrate new mechanisms of comorbidity of depression and constipation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaojie Liu
- Modern Research Centre for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, China.,Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, China.,Key Laboratory of Effective Substances Research and Utilisation in Traditional Chinese Medicine of Shanxi Province, Taiyuan, China
| | - Ziyu Zhao
- Modern Research Centre for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, China.,Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, China.,Key Laboratory of Effective Substances Research and Utilisation in Traditional Chinese Medicine of Shanxi Province, Taiyuan, China
| | - Yuhui Fan
- Modern Research Centre for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, China.,Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, China.,Key Laboratory of Effective Substances Research and Utilisation in Traditional Chinese Medicine of Shanxi Province, Taiyuan, China
| | - Di Zhao
- Modern Research Centre for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, China.,Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, China.,Key Laboratory of Effective Substances Research and Utilisation in Traditional Chinese Medicine of Shanxi Province, Taiyuan, China
| | - Yaze Wang
- Modern Research Centre for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, China.,Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, China.,Key Laboratory of Effective Substances Research and Utilisation in Traditional Chinese Medicine of Shanxi Province, Taiyuan, China
| | - Meng Lv
- Modern Research Centre for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, China.,Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, China.,Key Laboratory of Effective Substances Research and Utilisation in Traditional Chinese Medicine of Shanxi Province, Taiyuan, China
| | - Xuemei Qin
- Modern Research Centre for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, China.,Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, China.,Key Laboratory of Effective Substances Research and Utilisation in Traditional Chinese Medicine of Shanxi Province, Taiyuan, China
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9
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Wang YT, Wang XL, Wang ZZ, Lei L, Hu D, Zhang Y. Antidepressant effects of the traditional Chinese herbal formula Xiao-Yao-San and its bioactive ingredients. PHYTOMEDICINE : INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHYTOTHERAPY AND PHYTOPHARMACOLOGY 2023; 109:154558. [PMID: 36610123 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2022.154558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2022] [Revised: 11/06/2022] [Accepted: 11/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Depression is one of the most debilitating and severe psychiatric disorders and a serious public health concern. Currently, many treatments are indicated for depression, including traditional Chinese medicinal formulae such as Xiao-Yao-San (XYS), which has effective antidepressant effects in clinical and animal studies. PURPOSE To summarize current evidence of XYS in terms of the preclinical and clinical studies and to identify the multi-level, multi-approach, and multi-target potential antidepressant mechanisms of XYS and active components of XYS by a comprehensive search of the related electronic databases. METHODS The following electronic databases were searched from the beginning to April 2022: PubMed, MEDLINE, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure. RESULTS This review summarizes the antidepressant mechanisms of XYS and its active ingredients, which are reportedly correlated with monoamine neurotransmitter regulation, synaptic plasticity, and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, etc. CONCLUSION: XYS plays a critical role in the treatment of depression by the regulation of several factors, including the monoaminergic systems, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, synaptic plasticity, inflammation, brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels, brain-gut axis, and other pathways. However, more clinical and animal studies should be conducted to further investigate the antidepressant function of XYS and provide more evidence and recommendations for its clinical application. Our review provides an overview of XYS and guidance for future research direction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ya-Ting Wang
- School of Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 102488, China
| | - Xiao-Le Wang
- School of Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 102488, China
| | - Zhen-Zhen Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substances and Functions of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica & Neuroscience Center, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China
| | - Lan Lei
- School of Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 102488, China
| | - Die Hu
- School of Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 102488, China
| | - Yi Zhang
- School of Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 102488, China.
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10
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Sun Y, Zhao J, Rong J. Dissecting the molecular mechanisms underlying the antidepressant activities of herbal medicines through the comprehensive review of the recent literatures. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:1054726. [PMID: 36620687 PMCID: PMC9813794 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.1054726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2022] [Accepted: 12/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Depression is clinically defined as a mood disorder with persistent feeling of sadness, despair, fatigue, and loss of interest. The pathophysiology of depression is tightly regulated by the biosynthesis, transport and signaling of neurotransmitters [e.g., serotonin, norepinephrine, dopamine, or γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)] in the central nervous system. The existing antidepressant drugs mainly target the dysfunctions of various neurotransmitters, while the efficacy of antidepressant therapeutics is undermined by different adverse side-effects. The present review aimed to dissect the molecular mechanisms underlying the antidepressant activities of herbal medicines toward the development of effective and safe antidepressant drugs. Our strategy involved comprehensive review and network pharmacology analysis for the active compounds and associated target proteins. As results, 45 different antidepressant herbal medicines were identified from various in vivo and in vitro studies. The antidepressant mechanisms might involve multiple signaling pathways that regulate neurotransmitters, neurogenesis, anti-inflammation, antioxidation, endocrine, and microbiota. Importantly, herbal medicines could modulate broader spectrum of the cellular pathways and processes to attenuate depression and avoid the side-effects of synthetic antidepressant drugs. The present review not only recognized the antidepressant potential of herbal medicines but also provided molecular insights for the development of novel antidepressant drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yilu Sun
- Department of Chinese Medicine, The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China
- School of Chinese Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Jia Zhao
- Department of Chinese Medicine, The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China
- School of Chinese Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Jianhui Rong
- School of Chinese Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
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11
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Chi X, Xue X, Pan J, Wu J, Shi H, Wang Y, Lu Y, Zhang Z, Ma K. Mechanism of lily bulb and Rehmannia decoction in the treatment of lipopolysaccharide-induced depression-like rats based on metabolomics study and network pharmacology. PHARMACEUTICAL BIOLOGY 2022; 60:1850-1864. [PMID: 36205539 PMCID: PMC9553158 DOI: 10.1080/13880209.2022.2121843] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2022] [Revised: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 09/01/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
CONTEXT Lily bulb and Rehmannia decoction (LBRD), consisting of Lilium henryi Baker (Liliaceae) and Rehmannia glutinosa (Gaertn) DC (Plantaginaceae), is a specialized traditional Chinese medicine formula for treating depression. However, the underlying mechanisms, especially the relationship between LBRD efficacy and metabolomics, remains unclear. OBJECTIVE This study was aimed to investigate the metabolic mechanism of LBRD in treating depression. MATERIALS AND METHODS Network pharmacology was conducted using SwissTargetPrediction, DisGeNET, DrugBank, Metascape, etc., to construct component-target-pathway networks. The depression-like model was induced by intraperitoneal injection with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (0.3 mg/kg) for 14 consecutive days. After the administration of LBRD (90 g/kg) and fluoxetine (2 mg/kg) for 14 days, we assessed behaviour and the levels of neurotransmitter, inflammatory cytokine and circulating stress hormone. Prefrontal metabolites of rats were detected by using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry metabolomics method. RESULTS The results of network pharmacology showed that LBRD mainly acted on neurotransmitter and second messenger pathways. Compared to the model group, LBRD significantly ameliorated depressive phenotypes and increased the level of 5-HT (13.4%) and GABA (24.8%), as well as decreased IL-1β (30.7%), IL-6 (32.8%) and TNF-α (26.6%). Followed by LBRD treatment, the main metabolites in prefrontal tissue were contributed to retrograde endocannabinoid signalling, glycerophospholipid metabolism, glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchor biosynthesis, autophagy signal pathway, etc. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS LBRD were effective at increasing neurotransmitter, attenuating proinflammatory cytokine and regulating glycerophospholipid metabolism and glutamatergic synapse, thereby ameliorating depressive phenotypes. This research will offer reference for elucidating the metabolomic mechanism underlying novel antidepressant agents contained LBRD formula.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiansu Chi
- Xiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, PR China
| | - Xiaoyan Xue
- Shandong Co-Innovation Center of Classic TCM Formula, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, PR China
| | - Jin Pan
- Shandong Co-Innovation Center of Classic TCM Formula, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, PR China
| | - Jiang Wu
- Shandong Co-Innovation Center of Classic TCM Formula, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, PR China
| | - Huishan Shi
- Shandong Co-Innovation Center of Classic TCM Formula, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, PR China
| | - Yong Wang
- Shandong Co-Innovation Center of Classic TCM Formula, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, PR China
| | - Yanting Lu
- Shandong Co-Innovation Center of Classic TCM Formula, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, PR China
| | - Zhe Zhang
- Shandong Co-Innovation Center of Classic TCM Formula, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, PR China
| | - Ke Ma
- Shandong Co-Innovation Center of Classic TCM Formula, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, PR China
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12
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Efficacy and Safety of Jianpi Jieyu Decoction for Patients with Mild-to-Moderate Depression of Xin (Heart)-Pi (Spleen) Deficiency Syndrome: A Multi-centre Randomized Controlled Study. Chin J Integr Med 2022; 29:299-307. [PMID: 36301455 PMCID: PMC9607702 DOI: 10.1007/s11655-022-3685-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Jianpi Jieyu Decoction (JJD) for treating patients with mild-to-moderate depression of Xin (Heart)-Pi (Spleen) deficiency (XPD) syndrome. Methods In this multi-center, randomized, controlled study, 140 patients with mild-to-moderate depression of XPD syndrome were included from Xiyuan Hospital of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences and Botou Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine from December 2017 to December 2019. They were randomly divided into JJD group and paroxetine group by using a random number table, with 70 cases in each group. The patients in the JJD group were given JJD one dose per day (twice daily at morning and evening, 100 mL each time), and the patients in the paroxetine group were given paroxetine (10 mg/d in week 1; 20 mg/d in weeks 2–6), both orally administration for a total of 6 weeks. The primary outcome was the change of 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD-17) score at week 6 from baseline. The secondary outcomes included the Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA) score, Traditional Chinese Medicine Symptom Scale (TCMSS), and Clinlcal Global Impression (CGI) scores at the 2nd, 4th, and 6th weekends of treatment, HAMD-17 response (defined as a reduction in score of >50%) and HAMD-17 remission (defined as a score of ⩽7) at the end of the 6th week of treatment. Adverse events (AEs) were also recorded. Results From baseline to week 6, the HAMD-17 scores decreased 10.2 ± 4.0 and 9.1 ± 4.9 points in the JJD and paroxetine groups, respectively (P=0.689). The HAMD-17 response occurred in 60% of patients in the JJD group and in 50% of those in the paroxetine group (P=0.292); HAMD-17 remission occurred in 45.7% and 30% of patients, respectively (P=0.128). The differences of CGI scores at the 6th week were not statistically significant (P>0.05). There were significant differences in HAMD-17 scores between the two groups at 2nd and 4th week (P=0.001 and P=0.014). The HAMA scores declined 8.1 ± 3.0 and 6.9 ± 4.3 points from baseline to week 6 in the JJD and paroxetine groups, respectively (P=0.905 between groups). At 4th week of treatment, there was a significant difference in HAMA between the two groups (P=0.037). TCMSS decreased 11.4 ± 5.1, and 10.1 ± 6.8 points in the JJD and paroxetine groups, respectively (P=0.080 between groups). At the 6th week, the incidence of AEs in the JJD group was significantly lower than that in the paroxetine group (7.14% vs. 22.86%, P<0.05). Conclusion Compared with paroxetine, JJD was associated with a significantly lower incidence of AEs in patients with mild-to-moderate depression of XPD syndrome, with no difference in efficacy at 6 weeks. (Trial registration No. ChiCTR2000040922) Electronic Supplementary Material Supplementary material (Appendix 1) is available in the online version of this article at 10.1007/s11655-022-3685-6.
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13
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Bai Y, Dai G, Song L, Gu X, Ba N, Ju W, Zhang W. Potential Anti-Depressive Effects and Mechanisms of Zhi-Zi Hou-Po Decoction Using Behavioral Despair Tests Combined With in Vitro Approaches. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:918776. [PMID: 35873590 PMCID: PMC9298739 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.918776] [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: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 06/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Zhi-Zi Hou-Po Decoction (ZHD) has been widely used in the treatment of depression for centuries. This study aimed to investigate the antidepressant effects of the water extract of ZHD (ZHD-WE) and ethanol extract of ZHD (ZHD-EE) using behavioral despair tests in mice, and to further explore the neuroprotective effects in a PC12 cell injury model induced by corticosterone (CORT). Mice were divided into a control group (normal saline), ZHD-WE groups (4, 8, and 16 g kg-1), ZHD-EE groups (4, 8, and 16 g kg-1) and the fluoxetine group (20 mg kg-1). The forced swimming test (FST) and tail suspension test (TST) were used to screen the antidepressant effects of ZHD-WE and ZHD-EE after oral administration for seven consecutive days. The level of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the hippocampus was determined by ELISA. The MTT, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and flow cytometry analysis were performed to elucidate the neuroprotective effect of ZHD-EE on a PC12 cell injury model. Additionally, the mRNA and proteins expression of apoptotic molecules Bax, Bcl-2 and BDNF were detected by RT-PCR and western blot assay. It showed that ZHD-EE at concentrations of 8 and 16 g kg-1 significantly decreased the immobility time in the TST and FST, and increased the BDNF levels in the hippocampus. While ZHD-WE at concentrations of 4, 8, and 16 g kg-1 had no significant effect on the immobility time in the TST, and only the 16 g kg-1 of extract group significantly decreased the immobility time in the FST. In vitro, the obtained results showed that PC12 cells pre-incubated with ZHD-EE at concentrations of 100 and 400 μg ml-1 improved cell viability, decreased LDH release, and reduced apoptosis rate of PC12 cells. Moreover, ZHD-EE significantly increased the mRNA and proteins expression of Bcl-2 and BDNF, while decreased the mRNA and protein expression of Bax. ZHD-EE significantly improved despair-like behavior in mice, and its mechanism may be related to BDNF upregulation in the hippocampus. This study also showed that ZHD-EE had a protective effect on CORT-induced injury in PC12 cells by upregulating the expression of BDNF and restoring Bcl-2/Bax balance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongtao Bai
- Department of Pharmacy, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University and Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou, China.,Clinical Research Center, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University and Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Guoliang Dai
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Lihua Song
- Department of Pharmacy, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University and Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Xiaolei Gu
- Clinical Research Center, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University and Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Ning Ba
- Clinical Research Center, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University and Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Wenzheng Ju
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Wenzhou Zhang
- Department of Pharmacy, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University and Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
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14
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Chen J, Li T, Qin X, Du G, Zhou Y. Integration of Non-Targeted Metabolomics and Targeted Quantitative Analysis to Elucidate the Synergistic Antidepressant Effect of Bupleurum Chinense DC-Paeonia Lactiflora Pall Herb Pair by Regulating Purine Metabolism. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:900459. [PMID: 35847012 PMCID: PMC9280301 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.900459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Bupleurum chinense DC (Chaihu)-Paeonia lactiflora Pall (Baishao) is among the most accepted herb pairs in many classic antidepressant prescriptions. Our previous study has shown that the Chaihu–Baishao herb pair (CBHP) had a better antidepressant effect than Chaihu or Baishao. Nevertheless, the synergistic antidepressant mechanism of this herb pair was not clearly understood. This study aimed to investigate the compatibility mechanism of Chaihu and Baishao for treating depression through a strategy of non-targeted metabolomics combined with targeted quantitative analysis and molecular biology techniques. First, the compatibility effects of CBHP were assessed by the chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) rat model. Next, cortex metabolomics based on ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography combined with quadrupole orbitrap mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-Orbitrap/MS) was used to discover the metabolic pathway that was synergistically regulated by CBHP. Based on the results of metabolomics analysis, metabolites were quantitatively validated by UPLC-MS/MS combined with the MRM mode in the crucial metabolic pathway. In addition, the signaling pathway associated with this metabolic pathway was detected by molecular biology techniques to further identify the biological meaning of the crucial metabolite on the synergistic antidepressant effect of CBHP. The antidepressant effect of CBHP was significantly better than that of Chaihu or Baishao single administrated in the behavioral test. According to cortex metabolomics, a total of 21 differential metabolites were screened out, and purine metabolism was selected as the crucial metabolic pathway by the enrichment analysis of differential metabolites. Subsequently, purine metabolism was confirmed as disorder in the CUMS group by targeted quantitative analysis, CBHP regulated more purine metabolites (six) than individual administration (two and two). The results showed that purine metabolism was modulated by CBHP through synergistically decreasing xanthine levels and inhibiting the conversion of xanthine dehydrogenase (XDH) to xanthine oxidase (XOD). Finally, the synergistic regulation effect of CBHP on xanthine synthesis was found to be related to inhibition of malondialdehyde (MDA) production, Nod-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome expression, and interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α secretion. The present study demonstrated that the regulation of purine metabolism, the suppression of oxidative stress, and inflammatory responses in the cortex were involved in the synergistic antidepressant effect of CBHP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiajun Chen
- Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, China
- The Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, China
- The Key Laboratory of Effective Substances Research and Utilization in TCM of Shanxi Province, Taiyuan, China
| | - Tian Li
- Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, China
- The Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, China
- The Key Laboratory of Effective Substances Research and Utilization in TCM of Shanxi Province, Taiyuan, China
| | - Xuemei Qin
- Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, China
- The Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, China
- The Key Laboratory of Effective Substances Research and Utilization in TCM of Shanxi Province, Taiyuan, China
| | - Guanhua Du
- Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, China
- Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Yuzhi Zhou
- Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, China
- The Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, China
- The Key Laboratory of Effective Substances Research and Utilization in TCM of Shanxi Province, Taiyuan, China
- *Correspondence: Yuzhi Zhou,
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15
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Wu Q, Duan WZ, Chen JB, Zhao XP, Li XJ, Liu YY, Ma QY, Xue Z, Chen JX. Extracellular Vesicles: Emerging Roles in Developing Therapeutic Approach and Delivery Tool of Chinese Herbal Medicine for the Treatment of Depressive Disorder. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:843412. [PMID: 35401216 PMCID: PMC8988068 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.843412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2021] [Accepted: 02/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are lipid bilayer-delimited particles released by cells, which play an essential role in intercellular communication by delivering cellular components including DNA, RNA, lipids, metabolites, cytoplasm, and cell surface proteins into recipient cells. EVs play a vital role in the pathogenesis of depression by transporting miRNA and effector molecules such as BDNF, IL34. Considering that some herbal therapies exhibit antidepressant effects, EVs might be a practical delivery approach for herbal medicine. Since EVs can cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB), one of the advantages of EV-mediated herbal drug delivery for treating depression with Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) is that EVs can transfer herbal medicine into the brain cells. This review focuses on discussing the roles of EVs in the pathophysiology of depression and outlines the emerging application of EVs in delivering CHM for the treatment of depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Wu
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
- Division of Neurobiology, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Wen-Zhen Duan
- Division of Neurobiology, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
- The Solomon H Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Jian-Bei Chen
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Xiao-Peng Zhao
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Xiao-Juan Li
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Formula-Pattern of Traditional Chinese Medicine, School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yue-Yun Liu
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Qing-Yu Ma
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Formula-Pattern of Traditional Chinese Medicine, School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhe Xue
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Jia-Xu Chen
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Formula-Pattern of Traditional Chinese Medicine, School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
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16
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Huang D, Wang L, Wu Y, Qin X, Du G, Zhou Y. Metabolomics Based on Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells to Dissect the Mechanisms of Chaigui Granules for Treating Depression. ACS OMEGA 2022; 7:8466-8482. [PMID: 35309492 PMCID: PMC8928523 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.1c06046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2021] [Accepted: 02/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Chaigui granules were a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) preparation with antidepressant effects derived from a famous antidepressant prescription. It was of great significance to clarify the antidepressant mechanism of Chaigui granules for the clinical application of this drug. In this study, a chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) depression model was successfully established, and behavioral indicators were used to evaluate the antidepressant effect. Second, the CD4+, CD8+, and CD4+/CD8+ levels were detected in peripheral blood. Meanwhile, the amount of inflammatory cytokines was determined in serum. Correspondingly, LC/MS-based peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) metabolomics was used to investigate vital metabolic pathways participating in the antidepressive effects of Chaigui granules. Finally, bioinformatics technology was further employed to discover the potential antidepressant mechanism of Chaigui granules regulating the immune system. The results suggested that the administration of Chaigui granules significantly improved CUMS-induced depressive symptoms. Chaigui granules could improve immune function by regulating T lymphocyte subsets, increasing anti-inflammatory cytokine levels of IL-2 and IL-10, and reducing pro-inflammatory cytokine levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6. In addition, metabolomics results of PBMCs showed that Chaigui granules improved 14 of the 25 potential biomarkers induced by CUMS. Metabolic pathway analyses indicated that purine metabolism was the critical metabolic pathway regulated by Chaigui granules. Furthermore, correlation analysis indicated that 13 key biomarkers were related to immune-related indicators. The metabolite-gene network of 13 key biomarkers was investigated by using bioinformatics. The investigation showed that 10 targets (5'-nucleotidase ecto; 5'-nucleotidase, cytosolic IB; 5'-nucleotidase, cytosolic II; etc.), mainly belong to the purine metabolism, might be potential targets for Chaigui granules to exert their antidepressant effects by improving immune function impairment. Together, our results suggested that Chaigui granules might exert antidepressant effects by improving immune function and regulating the purine metabolic pathway in PBMCs. This work used PBMCs metabolomics as an entry point to study the antidepressant mechanism of Chaigui granules, which provided a new way to elucidate the mechanism of a traditional Chinese medicine prescription.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dehua Huang
- Modern
Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Key Laboratory of
Chemical Biology and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, Shanxi University, 92 Wucheng Road, Xiaodian District, Taiyuan 030006, Shanxi, P. R. China
- Key
Laboratory of Effective Substances Research and Utilization in TCM
of Shanxi Province, Shanxi University, 92 Wucheng Road, Xiaodian District, Taiyuan 030006, Shanxi, P. R. China
| | - Liwen Wang
- Modern
Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Key Laboratory of
Chemical Biology and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, Shanxi University, 92 Wucheng Road, Xiaodian District, Taiyuan 030006, Shanxi, P. R. China
- Key
Laboratory of Effective Substances Research and Utilization in TCM
of Shanxi Province, Shanxi University, 92 Wucheng Road, Xiaodian District, Taiyuan 030006, Shanxi, P. R. China
| | - Yanfei Wu
- Department
of Traditional Chinese Medicine, First Hospital
of Shanxi Medical University, Yingze District, Taiyuan 030001, Shanxi, China
| | - Xuemei Qin
- Modern
Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Key Laboratory of
Chemical Biology and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, Shanxi University, 92 Wucheng Road, Xiaodian District, Taiyuan 030006, Shanxi, P. R. China
- Key
Laboratory of Effective Substances Research and Utilization in TCM
of Shanxi Province, Shanxi University, 92 Wucheng Road, Xiaodian District, Taiyuan 030006, Shanxi, P. R. China
| | - Guanhua Du
- Modern
Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Key Laboratory of
Chemical Biology and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, Shanxi University, 92 Wucheng Road, Xiaodian District, Taiyuan 030006, Shanxi, P. R. China
- Key
Laboratory of Effective Substances Research and Utilization in TCM
of Shanxi Province, Shanxi University, 92 Wucheng Road, Xiaodian District, Taiyuan 030006, Shanxi, P. R. China
- Institute
of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical
Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Xicheng District, Beijing 100050, P. R. China
| | - Yuzhi Zhou
- Modern
Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Key Laboratory of
Chemical Biology and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, Shanxi University, 92 Wucheng Road, Xiaodian District, Taiyuan 030006, Shanxi, P. R. China
- Key
Laboratory of Effective Substances Research and Utilization in TCM
of Shanxi Province, Shanxi University, 92 Wucheng Road, Xiaodian District, Taiyuan 030006, Shanxi, P. R. China
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Zhang W, Cui N, Su F, Wang Y, Yang B, Sun Y, Guan W, Kuang H, Wang Q. Comprehensive Metabolomics and Network Pharmacology to Explore the Mechanism of 5-Hydroxymethyl Furfural in the Treatment of Blood Deficiency Syndrome. Front Pharmacol 2022; 12:811331. [PMID: 35310893 PMCID: PMC8931835 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.811331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 12/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Radix Rehmanniae (RR, from Radix Rehmanniae (Gaertn.) DC.) is a natural medicine used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) since ancient times for the treatment of blood disorders. RR is steamed to get Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata (RP), which has a tonic effect on blood; the content of 5-hydromethylfurfural (5-HMF) increases more than four times after steaming. Studies have shown that 5-HMF has positive pharmacological effects on cardiovascular and hematological disorders. This study aimed to explore and verify the impact of 5-HMF on rats with chemotherapy-induced blood deficiency syndrome (BDS). Rats were given cyclophosphamide (CP) and acetophenhydrazine (APH) to induce BDS, the coefficients of some organs (liver, spleen, and kidney) were measured, and a routine blood test examined the coefficients of several peripheral blood cells. Metabolomics and network pharmacology were combined to find important biomarkers, targets, and pathways. Western blot was used to detect the expression of CYP17A1 and HSD3B1 proteins in the spleen. All these findings suggested that the 5-HMF significantly increased the number of peripheral blood cells and reversed splenomegaly in rats. In addition, 5-HMF upregulated CYP17A1 and HSD3B1 protein expression in splenic tissues. Also, 5-HMF ameliorated chemotherapy-induced BDS in rats, and its therapeutic mechanism might depend on steroid hormone biosynthesis and other pathways. It acts on blood deficiency via multiple targets and pathways, which is unique to Chinese medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wensen Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Basic and Application Research of Beiyao (Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine), Ministry of Education, Harbin, China
| | - Na Cui
- Key Laboratory of Basic and Application Research of Beiyao (Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine), Ministry of Education, Harbin, China
| | - Fazhi Su
- Key Laboratory of Basic and Application Research of Beiyao (Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine), Ministry of Education, Harbin, China
| | - Yangyang Wang
- Key Laboratory of Basic and Application Research of Beiyao (Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine), Ministry of Education, Harbin, China
| | - Bingyou Yang
- Key Laboratory of Basic and Application Research of Beiyao (Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine), Ministry of Education, Harbin, China
| | - Yanping Sun
- Key Laboratory of Basic and Application Research of Beiyao (Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine), Ministry of Education, Harbin, China
| | - Wei Guan
- Key Laboratory of Basic and Application Research of Beiyao (Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine), Ministry of Education, Harbin, China
| | - Haixue Kuang
- Key Laboratory of Basic and Application Research of Beiyao (Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine), Ministry of Education, Harbin, China
- *Correspondence: Haixue Kuang, ; Qiuhong Wang,
| | - Qiuhong Wang
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangdong, China
- *Correspondence: Haixue Kuang, ; Qiuhong Wang,
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Zhao X, Ma R, Zhang X, Wang B, Rong B, Jiang N, Feng W, Chen M, Huo Z, Li S, Xia T. Transcriptomic study of the mechanism by which the Kai Yu Zhong Yu recipe improves oocyte quality in a stressed mouse model. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2021; 278:114298. [PMID: 34090913 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2021.114298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2021] [Revised: 04/26/2021] [Accepted: 06/01/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE The Kai Yu Zhong Yu recipe (KYZY) is a classic herbal formula in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) that has been used to treat infertility associated with psychological stress for more than three hundred years. AIM OF THE STUDY Psychological stress has major impacts on fertility, with variable outcomes depending on the nature, strength, and duration of the stress. Stress can directly disturb ovulation, oocyte quality, maturation, and embryo development. The aim of this study is to investigate the molecular mechanism by which KYZY improves oocyte developmental potential under psychological stress. MATERIALS AND METHODS ICR female mice aged 4-5 weeks were randomly divided into five groups: control, stressed in the chronic unpredictable stress model (CUSM), and stressed plus KYZY treatment at 38.2 g/kg (KYZYH), 19.1 g/kg (KYZYM), or 9.6 g/kg (KYZYL). Ovary function was assessed by measuring serum levels of estradiol (E2), luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH). Oocyte quality was evaluated in terms of reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, apoptotic DNA fragmentation, and mitochondria distribution. We used RNA sequencing (RNAseq) to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between groups and then further analyzed the DEGs for gene ontology (GO) term enrichment and protein-protein interactions. RESULTS Mice in the stressed group had reduced serum E2, LH, and FSH as well as increased ROS levels, increased apoptosis, and disturbed mitochondria distribution in oocytes. Treatment with KYZY at all three doses reversed or ameliorated these negative effects of stress. DEG analysis identified 187 common genes between the two comparisons (stressed vs. control and KYZYM vs. stressed), 33 of which were annotated with six gene ontology (GO)'s biological process (BP) terms: cell differentiation, apoptosis, ATP synthesis, protein homo-oligomerization, neuron migration, and negative regulation of peptidase activity. Protein-protein interaction network analysis of DEGs identified key hub genes. Notably, the genes Atp5o and Cyc1 were both involved in the ATP synthesis and among the top three hub genes, suggesting that regulation of oocyte mitochondrial electron transport and ATP synthesis is important in the response to stress and also is a possible mechanism of action for KYZY. CONCLUSIONS KYZY was effective in ameliorating the adverse effects of stress on oocyte competence, possibly by targeting the mitochondrial respiratory chain and ATP synthase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoli Zhao
- Reproductive Center, First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, And National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin, 300381, China
| | - Ruihong Ma
- Reproductive Center, First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, And National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin, 300381, China
| | - Xiaoyu Zhang
- Reproductive Center, First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, And National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin, 300381, China
| | - Baojuan Wang
- Reproductive Center, First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, And National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin, 300381, China
| | - Beilei Rong
- Reproductive Center, First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, And National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin, 300381, China
| | - Nan Jiang
- Reproductive Center, First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, And National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin, 300381, China
| | - Weihua Feng
- Reproductive Center, First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, And National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin, 300381, China
| | - Mingli Chen
- Reproductive Center, First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, And National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin, 300381, China
| | - Zhipeng Huo
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 301617, China
| | - Shuming Li
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin, 300130, China
| | - Tian Xia
- Reproductive Center, First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, And National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin, 300381, China.
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Gao L, Zhang Y, Xu H, Zhao F, Wang W. Therapeutic Effects of Modified Gengnianchun Formula on Stress-Induced Diminished Ovarian Reserve Based on Experimental Approaches and Network Pharmacology. Drug Des Devel Ther 2021; 14:4975-4992. [PMID: 33239863 PMCID: PMC7680799 DOI: 10.2147/dddt.s279553] [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: 09/02/2020] [Accepted: 10/23/2020] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Aim To verify the effects of modified Gengnianchun formula (MGNC), a traditional Chinese medicine, on a stressed diminished ovarian reserve (DOR) animal model and predict the underlying mechanisms through network pharmacology strategies. Methods Sexually mature female C57BL/6 mice were allocated to five groups, abbreviated as the control (C) group, stress manipulated model (M) group, stress with normal saline gavage (N) group, stress with low-dose MGNC gavage (L) group, and stress with high-dose MGNC gavage (H) group. Body weight and the estrous cycle were monitored during the stress and gavage process. Serum stress hormones and reproductive hormones were evaluated by ELISA. Ovarian follicle counts were calculated, and ovarian follicle-stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR) and anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) expression were assessed by Western blotting and immunohistochemistry. Network pharmacology strategies included active compound screening, drug and disease target analysis, gene ontology analysis, pathway analysis, and visualization of results. Results MGNC treatment significantly decreased serum corticosterone (CORT) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels and increased testosterone (T) levels in the H group compared with the M and N groups. Primordial and preantral follicle counts and ovarian AMH and FSHR expression were significantly increased in the H group compared to those in the M and N groups. Through pharmacokinetic screening, we found 244 active compounds in MGNC. A total of 186 candidate intersection target genes of disease and MGNC were further screened to construct the interaction network. Gene ontology and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis ultimately unveiled a series of key targets that mainly mediated the effects of MGNC on DOR induced by chronic stress. The PI3K-Akt pathway may serve as the critical pathway underlying this therapeutic mechanism. Conclusion MGNC is a promising formula to treat DOR induced by chronic stress, and the PI3K-Akt pathway may play an essential role in this effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingyun Gao
- Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese Medicine and Western Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, 200011, People's Republic of China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Female Reproductive Endocrine Related Diseases, Shanghai 200011, People's Republic of China
| | - Yang Zhang
- Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese Medicine and Western Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, 200011, People's Republic of China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Female Reproductive Endocrine Related Diseases, Shanghai 200011, People's Republic of China
| | - Huangfang Xu
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Female Reproductive Endocrine Related Diseases, Shanghai 200011, People's Republic of China
| | - Fangui Zhao
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Female Reproductive Endocrine Related Diseases, Shanghai 200011, People's Republic of China.,Department of Ultrasound Diagnosis, Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, 200011, People's Republic of China
| | - Wenjun Wang
- Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese Medicine and Western Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, 200011, People's Republic of China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Female Reproductive Endocrine Related Diseases, Shanghai 200011, People's Republic of China
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20
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Zhou Y, Li T, Zhu S, Gong W, Qin X, Du G. Study on antidepressant mechanism of Radix Bupleuri-Radix Paeoniae Alba herb pair by metabonomics combined with 1H nuclear magnetic resonance and ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry detection technology. J Pharm Pharmacol 2021; 73:1262-1273. [PMID: 33885788 DOI: 10.1093/jpp/rgab061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2020] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Radix Bupleuri-Radix Paeoniae Alba (BP), a traditional Chinese medicine herb pair, has treated depression by coordinating the liver in Chinese classical medicine books and modern research. This study aims to verify the antidepressant effect of BP by behavioural examination, and reveal the underlying antidepressant mechanisms of BP. METHODS The antidepressant effects in chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) of BP were observed by behavioural indicators and 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR) and ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) metabonomics techniques combined with the related analysis platforms. KEY FINDINGS BP could significantly improve the depressive behaviour of CUMS rats. Compared with the model group, body weight (P < 0.05), the number of crossing (P < 0.001) and rearing (P < 0.01) and sucrose preference rate (P < 0.01) were significantly enhanced, and the immobility time was shortened in the forced swimming test (P < 0.001) of the BP group. In metabonomics study, 35 depression-related metabolites were identified by 1H NMR and UHPLC-MS/MS metabonomics by comparing model and control groups. BP could significantly retrieve 17 depression-related metabolites. Thirteen depression-related metabolic pathways were found through Met-PA and BP could regulate seven metabolic pathways. CONCLUSIONS BP herb pair had significantly antidepressant effect, which provides a basis for further finding drug targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuzhi Zhou
- Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, P.R. China
- China Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, P.R. China
| | - Tian Li
- China Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, P.R. China
| | - Shiwei Zhu
- China Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, P.R. China
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, P.R. China
| | - Wenxia Gong
- China Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, P.R. China
| | - Xuemei Qin
- China Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, P.R. China
| | - Guanhua Du
- Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, P.R. China
- China Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, P.R. China
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21
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Li H, Li D, Zhao G, Gao Y, Ke J. Effects of Danggui-Shaoyao-San on depression- and anxiety-like behaviors of rats induced by experimental tooth movement. J Orofac Orthop 2021; 83:23-33. [PMID: 34309701 DOI: 10.1007/s00056-021-00323-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2019] [Accepted: 04/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To investigate the effects of Danggui-Shaoyao-San (DSS) on depression- and anxiety-like behavior induced by experimental tooth movement (ETM) in rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS Thirty-six rats were randomly divided into a sham group (n = 12; rats underwent all operation procedures, except placement of orthodontic forces, and received saline treatment), ETM group (n = 12; rats received saline treatment and ETM), and DETM group (n = 12; rats received DSS [dose: 150 mg/kg twice daily from preoperative day 5 to postoperative day 7] treatment and ETM). The vacuous chewing movement (VCM) test, open-field test, and elevated plus maze test were performed to assess the depression- and anxiety-like behaviors of the rats. RESULTS DSS pretreatment significantly decreased the ETM-induced VCM time (P < 0.05, DETM vs. ETM), increased the ETM-induced time to the central area of experimental device during the 5 min open-field test (P < 0.05, DETM vs. ETM), and increased the ratio of time spent in the open arms of the 5 min elevated plus maze test induced by ETM (P < 0.01, DETM vs. ETM). CONCLUSIONS DSS pretreatment can restore the impaired abilities of rats caused by ETM-induced depression- and anxiety-like behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongshi Li
- Institute of Stomatology, The Medical Center of Air Force of PLA, Beijing 100142, China
| | - Dongxia Li
- Institute of Stomatology, The Medical Center of Air Force of PLA, Beijing 100142, China
| | - Guizhi Zhao
- Institute of Stomatology, The Medical Center of Air Force of PLA, Beijing 100142, China
| | - Yuan Gao
- Institute of Stomatology, The Medical Center of Air Force of PLA, Beijing 100142, China
| | - Jie Ke
- Institute of Stomatology, The Medical Center of Air Force of PLA, Beijing 100142, China.
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22
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Liu XJ, Liu HL, Zhao D, Wei FX, Wang YZ, Lv M, Chen SJ, Li SY, Qin XM. Hepatic metabolomics of the compatibility effect of Xiaoyaosan on CUMS-induced depression based on the TCM theory of "Treating Diseases via Regulating the Liver's Function". J Pharm Biomed Anal 2021; 201:114123. [PMID: 33989991 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpba.2021.114123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2021] [Revised: 04/28/2021] [Accepted: 05/03/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
This study aimed to demonstrate the scientific connotations and compatibility effects of Xiaoyaosan (XYS) based on the theory of "Treating Diseases via Regulating the Liver's Function" by hepatic metabolomics. XYS was divided into two efficacy groups, i.e. the Shugan (SG) and the Jianpi (JP) groups, according to the strategy of "Efficacy Compositions". The chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) depression model was constructed. A 1H NMR-based hepatic metabolomics approach coupled with multivariate data (MVD) analysis was performed. Meanwhile, relative distance (RD) and Efficacy Index (EI) were calculated. XYS and its efficacy groups significantly reversed the abnormality of behavior and hepatic metabolomics of depression rats, but to different degrees. The results of ethology and metabolomics showed the same order, i.e. XYS > JP > SG. Two metabolites, i.e. tyrosine and malate, were regulated by all the treatment groups. Four metabolites were significantly regulated only by XYS group. Of note, the results showed the two efficacy groups of XYS exhibited synergistic anti-depression effects, and glutamate, malate and taurine could be the key hepatic metabolites for these synergistic effects. The current study not only complements and consummates the mechanisms of depression and the anti-depression effects of XYS from the perspective of hepatic metabolomics, but also lays a solid foundation for comprehensively and deeply understanding the compatibility effects of XYS against depression, especially from the points of view of compatibility in Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) theory and synergism in modern medicine theory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Jie Liu
- Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, 030006, China; Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, 030006, China; Key Laboratory of Effective Substances Research and Utilization in Traditional Chinese Medicine of Shanxi Province, Taiyuan, 030006, China.
| | - Huan-le Liu
- Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, 030006, China; Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, 030006, China; Key Laboratory of Effective Substances Research and Utilization in Traditional Chinese Medicine of Shanxi Province, Taiyuan, 030006, China
| | - Di Zhao
- Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, 030006, China; Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, 030006, China; Key Laboratory of Effective Substances Research and Utilization in Traditional Chinese Medicine of Shanxi Province, Taiyuan, 030006, China
| | - Fu-Xiao Wei
- Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, 030006, China; Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, 030006, China; Key Laboratory of Effective Substances Research and Utilization in Traditional Chinese Medicine of Shanxi Province, Taiyuan, 030006, China
| | - Ya-Ze Wang
- Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, 030006, China; Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, 030006, China; Key Laboratory of Effective Substances Research and Utilization in Traditional Chinese Medicine of Shanxi Province, Taiyuan, 030006, China
| | - Meng Lv
- Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, 030006, China; Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, 030006, China; Key Laboratory of Effective Substances Research and Utilization in Traditional Chinese Medicine of Shanxi Province, Taiyuan, 030006, China
| | - Shi-Jian Chen
- School of Computer and Information Technology, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, 030006, China
| | - Shun-Yong Li
- School of Mathematics Sciences, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, 030006, China
| | - Xue-Mei Qin
- Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, 030006, China; Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, 030006, China; Key Laboratory of Effective Substances Research and Utilization in Traditional Chinese Medicine of Shanxi Province, Taiyuan, 030006, China.
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Liu X, Wang Y, Lv M, Zhao S, Chen S, Li S, Qin X. Serum metabolomics reveals compatibility rules of the antidepressant effects of Xiaoyaosan and its efficacy groups. Psychiatry Res 2021; 299:113827. [PMID: 33676173 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2021.113827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2020] [Accepted: 02/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) have attracted more attentions in the treatment of depression. Xiaoyaosan (XYS), a classic anti-depression TCM prescription, contains eight herbs. However, the compatibility effects of XYS in modern pharmacology need to be investigated in depth. In this study, the chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) depression-like model was constructed. Afterwards, XYS was divided into the Shugan and the Jianpi groups according to the research strategy ofefficacy groups. Meanwhile, a proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry (1H NMR) based serum metabolomics was applied. XYS and its efficacy groups significantly regulated the abnormal levels of differential metabolites related to depression, but to different degrees. Metabolic profiling by orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis showed that XYS at high dose (XH) exhibited the strongest effects than other treatment groups. Ten metabolites related to depression were identified as differential metabolites. Besides, relative distance (Rd) was calculated to quantitatively evaluate the effects. We found that XH group had the highest Rd value. Moreover, among the five metabolic pathways of depression, XYS and Jianpi groups significantly regulated all pathways while Shugan group regulated four pathways. These findings lay a solid foundation for comprehensively and deeply understanding the compatibility effects of XYS against depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaojie Liu
- Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China; Institute of Biomedicine and Health, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China.
| | - Yaze Wang
- Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China; Institute of Biomedicine and Health, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China
| | - Meng Lv
- Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China; Institute of Biomedicine and Health, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China
| | - Sijun Zhao
- Shanxi Institute for Food and Drug Control, Taiyuan 030001, China
| | - Shijian Chen
- School of Computer and Information Technology, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, 030006, China
| | - Shunyong Li
- School of Mathematical Sciences, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China
| | - Xuemei Qin
- Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China; Institute of Biomedicine and Health, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China.
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Li X, Qin XM, Tian JS, Gao XX, Du GH, Zhou YZ. Integrated network pharmacology and metabolomics to dissect the combination mechanisms of Bupleurum chinense DC-Paeonia lactiflora Pall herb pair for treating depression. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2021; 264:113281. [PMID: 32810624 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2020.113281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2020] [Revised: 08/05/2020] [Accepted: 08/11/2020] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE The compatibility of Bupleurum chinense DC (Chaihu)-Paeonia lactiflora Pall (Baishao) is one of the most accepted herb pairs in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) prescriptions for treating depression. However, the combination mechanisms of this herb pair for anti-depression remain unclear. MATERIALS AND METHODS In this study, the combined effect of Chaihu-Baishao was evaluated by the chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) rat model. Secondly, network pharmacology was constructed to dissect the united mechanisms. Based on the results of network pharmacology analysis, plasma metabolomics based on ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography combined with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-QTOF/MS) was performed to discover the collaborative effect on metabolite regulation. Furthermore, the targets from network pharmacology and the metabolites from metabolomics were jointly analyzed to select crucial metabolism pathways by MetaScape. Finally, the key metabolic enzymes and metabolites were experimentally validated by ELISA. RESULTS The antidepressant effect of Chaihu-Baishao herb pair was significantly better than Chaihu or Baishao in sucrose preference test (SPT), open-field test (OFT), and forced swim test (FST). In network pharmacology, herb pair played synergetic effect through regulating shared pathways, such as MAPK signaling pathway and arachidonic acid metabolism, etc. Besides, by metabolomics, the herb pair improved more metabolites (14) than a single herb (10 & 9) and has a stronger regulation effect on metabolites. Correspondingly, herb pair adjusted more metabolism pathways (5) than individual herb (4 & 4). Furthermore, the arachidonic acid metabolism was selected as crucial metabolism pathways by a joint analysis of 199 targets and 14 metabolites. The results showed that herb pair regulated arachidonic acid metabolism by synergetic reducing the level of arachidonic acid, and inhibiting the enzyme activity of prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 1 (PTGS1) and prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2 (PTGS2). CONCLUSIONS This work provided an integrated strategy for revealing the combination mechanisms of Chaihu-Baishao herb pair for treating depression, and also a rational way for clarifying the composition rules of TCM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Li
- Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, China; Shanxi Key Laboratory of Active Constituents Research and Utilization of TCM, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, China.
| | - Xue-Mei Qin
- Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, China; Shanxi Key Laboratory of Active Constituents Research and Utilization of TCM, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, China.
| | - Jun-Sheng Tian
- Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, China; Shanxi Key Laboratory of Active Constituents Research and Utilization of TCM, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, China.
| | - Xiao-Xia Gao
- Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, China; Shanxi Key Laboratory of Active Constituents Research and Utilization of TCM, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, China.
| | - Guan-Hua Du
- Institute of Material Medical, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
| | - Yu-Zhi Zhou
- Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, China; Shanxi Key Laboratory of Active Constituents Research and Utilization of TCM, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, China.
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Li X, Qin X, Tian J, Gao X, Wu X, Du G, Zhou Y. Liquiritin protects PC12 cells from corticosterone-induced neurotoxicity via regulation of metabolic disorders, attenuation ERK1/2-NF-κB pathway, activation Nrf2-Keap1 pathway, and inhibition mitochondrial apoptosis pathway. Food Chem Toxicol 2020; 146:111801. [PMID: 33035630 DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2020.111801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2020] [Revised: 09/28/2020] [Accepted: 10/01/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Liquiritin, a flavone derived from the medicine food homology plant liquorice, possesses neuroprotective. However, the neuroprotective mechanism is not clear. In this study, metabolomics based LC-MS was performed to discover the metabolite changes in PC12 cells treated with corticosterone-induced neurotoxicity after liquiritin treatment. A total of 30 metabolites were identified as differential metabolites. Among them, 11 metabolites were regulated by liquiritin, and involved in the D-glutamine and D-glutamate metabolism, and glutathione metabolism, etc. Based on the results of metabolomics, three cell signaling pathways related to these metabolic pathways were verified. The results showed that the ERK1/2-NF-κB pathway related to the D-glutamine and D-glutamate metabolism was attenuated by liquiritin via down-regulation phospho-ERK1/2, phospho-IκBα, phospho-NF-κB protein expression levels. Furthermore, the Nrf2-Keap1 pathway related to glutathione metabolism was activated by liquiritin via up-regulation Nrf2, Keap1, HO-1, NQO1 protein expression levels, and increased SOD, CAT, GSH-PX enzyme activity, thus exerting antioxidant activity. Additionally, liquiritin inhibited the mitochondrial apoptosis by decreasing the Ca2+ concentration, improving MMP, up-regulating Bcl-2, and down-regulating Bax, cytochrome C, cleaved-Caspase-3 expression levels. These results suggest that the neuroprotective mechanisms of liquiritin are connected to the regulation of metabolic disorders, activation Nrf2/Keap1 pathway, attenuation ERK1/2/NF-κB pathway, and inhibition mitochondrial apoptosis pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Li
- Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, China; Shanxi Key Laboratory of Active Constituents Research and Utilization of TCM, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, China.
| | - Xuemei Qin
- Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, China; Shanxi Key Laboratory of Active Constituents Research and Utilization of TCM, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, China.
| | - Junsheng Tian
- Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, China; Shanxi Key Laboratory of Active Constituents Research and Utilization of TCM, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, China.
| | - Xiaoxia Gao
- Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, China; Shanxi Key Laboratory of Active Constituents Research and Utilization of TCM, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, China.
| | - Xingkang Wu
- Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, China; Shanxi Key Laboratory of Active Constituents Research and Utilization of TCM, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, China.
| | - Guanhua Du
- Institute of Material Medical, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
| | - Yuzhi Zhou
- Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, China; Shanxi Key Laboratory of Active Constituents Research and Utilization of TCM, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, China.
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Wenyang Jieyu Decoction Alleviates Depressive Behavior in the Rat Model of Depression via Regulation of the Intestinal Microbiota. EVIDENCE-BASED COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE 2020; 2020:3290450. [PMID: 32774410 PMCID: PMC7396094 DOI: 10.1155/2020/3290450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2020] [Accepted: 06/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Background Intestinal microbiota plays an important role in the occurrence and treatment of depression. This study investigated whether Wenyang Jieyu decoction (WYJYD) alleviates depressive behavior in the rat model via regulation of the intestinal microbiota. Methods Rat model of depression was established by stress stimulus. SD male rats were randomly allocated into normal control, model, model + low-dose WYJYD (1.89 g/kg/d), model + medium-dose WYJYD (3.08 g/kg/d), model + high-dose WYJYD (7.56 g/kg/d), and model + fluoxetine (3.33 mg/kg/d) groups. Behavioral changes were observed using forced swim test. Histopathological changes in hippocampal tissue were examined by HE staining. Indicators in serum were detected by ELISA. Indicators in hippocampal tissue were detected by qPCR and western blot. Microbiota distribution in feces was detected using high-throughput 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Results Compared with the model group, the immobility time in WYJYD and fluoxetine groups was significantly decreased (P < 0.05), and the cell structure was significantly improved. Compared with the model group, the 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and norepinephrine (NE) levels in medium- and high-dose WYJYD groups and the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) level in the high-dose WYJYD group were significantly increased (P < 0.05, all), and the fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF2), forkhead box protein G1 (FOXG1), and phospho-protein kinase B/protein kinase B (p-AKT/AKT) expressions were increased with WYJYD treatments. The Chao1 and ACE indices in high-dose WYJYD and the Simpson and Shannon indices in medium-dose WYJYD were significantly different than the model group. The similarity of the intestinal microbial community of each group after WYJYD treatment tended to be closer to the control group. Compared with the model group, as the dosage of WYJYD increased, the abundance of genera Coprococcus, Lachnospira, and rc4-4 was significantly increased, while the abundance of genera Desulfovibrio, Burkholderia, and Enterococcus was significantly decreased. Conclusion WYJYD may alleviate the depressive behavior of the rat model by regulating the intestinal microbiota and neurotransmitters.
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Li S, Li T, Jin Y, Qin X, Tian J, Zhang L. Antidepressant-Like Effects of Coumaroylspermidine Extract From Safflower Injection Residues. Front Pharmacol 2020; 11:713. [PMID: 32625082 PMCID: PMC7311797 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2020.00713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2020] [Accepted: 04/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In this study, a total coumaroylspermidine extract (CSE), which included four coumaroylspermidine compounds, was prepared from safflower injection (a traditional Chinese medicine) residues for the first time. The total content of the four coumaroylspermidine compounds was determined to be 64.86 ± 0.41% using high-performance liquid chromatography. We then evaluated the anti-depressant effect of CSE by using a chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) model in rats. Results of sucrose preference tests, open field tests, and forced swimming tests suggest that CSE exhibits a significant anti-depressant effect. In studies to explore the mechanism, CSE was found to inhibit the increases in levels of corticosterone and decreases in levels of 5-hydroxytryptamine, dopamine, and noradrenaline induced by CUMS. Metabolic profiling showed that 10 endogenous metabolites and four metabolic pathways were altered after CSE treatment. Thus, this study not only found a spermidine extract with antidepressant effect from safflower injection residue for the first time but also provided a way for the efficient utilize of safflower injection residue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shifei Li
- Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Molecular Engineering of Education Ministry, Institute of Molecular Science, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, China
| | - Ting Li
- Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Molecular Engineering of Education Ministry, Institute of Molecular Science, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, China
| | - Yufang Jin
- Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Molecular Engineering of Education Ministry, Institute of Molecular Science, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, China
| | - Xuemei Qin
- Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, China
| | - Junsheng Tian
- Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, China
| | - Liwei Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Molecular Engineering of Education Ministry, Institute of Molecular Science, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, China
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Feng H, Wu YQ, Xu YS, Wang KX, Qin XM, Lu YF. LC-MS-Based Metabolomic Study of Oleanolic Acid-Induced Hepatotoxicity in Mice. Front Pharmacol 2020; 11:747. [PMID: 32670053 PMCID: PMC7326119 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2020.00747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2020] [Accepted: 05/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Oleanolic acid (OA), a natural triterpenoid, which has the development prospects in anti-tumor therapy is a widely used hepatoprotective drug in China. It has been reported that OA can cause liver toxicity after higher doses or longer-term use. Therefore, the study aims to explore the possible hepatotoxicity mechanism based on liver metabolic profiles. Liver metabolic profiles were obtained from untargeted ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC)-Q Exactive Orbitrap mass spectrometry (MS) technique. It was found that altered bile acid, amino acid, and energy metabolism might be at least partly responsible for OA-induced hepatotoxicity. Bile acid metabolism, as the most important pathway, was verified by using UHPLC-TSQ-MS, indicating that conjugated bile acids were the main contributors to OA-induced liver toxicity. Our findings confirmed that increased bile acids were the key element of OA hepatotoxicity, which may open new insights for OA hepatotoxicity in-depth investigations, as well as provide a reference basis for more hepatotoxic drug mechanism research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong Feng
- Key Laboratory of Basic Pharmacology of the Ministry of Education and Joint International Research Laboratory of Ethnomedicine of the Ministry of Education, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China
| | - Ying-Qiu Wu
- Key Laboratory of Basic Pharmacology of the Ministry of Education and Joint International Research Laboratory of Ethnomedicine of the Ministry of Education, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China
| | - Ya-Sha Xu
- Key Laboratory of Basic Pharmacology of the Ministry of Education and Joint International Research Laboratory of Ethnomedicine of the Ministry of Education, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China
| | - Ke-Xin Wang
- Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, China
| | - Xue-Mei Qin
- Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, China
| | - Yuan-Fu Lu
- Key Laboratory of Basic Pharmacology of the Ministry of Education and Joint International Research Laboratory of Ethnomedicine of the Ministry of Education, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China
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Li Y, Wu L, Chen C, Wang L, Guo C, Zhao X, Zhao T, Wang X, Liu A, Yan Z. Serum Metabolic Profiling Reveals the Antidepressive Effects of the Total Iridoids of Valeriana jatamansi Jones on Chronic Unpredictable Mild Stress Mice. Front Pharmacol 2020; 11:338. [PMID: 32265710 PMCID: PMC7099651 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2020.00338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2019] [Accepted: 03/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Depression is a long-term complex psychiatric disorder, and its etiology remains largely unknown. Valeriana jatamansi Jones ex Roxb (V. jatamansi) is used in the clinic for the treatment of depression, but there are insufficient reports of its antidepressive mechanisms and a poor understanding of its endogenous substance-related metabolism. The objective of this study was to identify biomarkers related to depression in serum samples and evaluate the antidepressive effects of the iridoid-rich fraction of V. jatamansi (IRFV) in a chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) mouse model. Methods Here, CUMS was used to establish a mouse model of depression. Behavioral and biochemical indicators were investigated to evaluate the pharmacodynamic effects. A comprehensive serum metabolomics study by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) approach was applied to investigate the pharmacological mechanism of IRFV in CUMS mouse. Subsequently, we used multivariate statistical analysis to identify metabolic markers, such as principal component analysis (PCA) and orthogonal projection to latent structure with discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA), to distinguish between the CUMS mouse and the control group. Results After IRFV treatment, the immobility time, sucrose preference, and monoamine neurotransmitter were improved. PCA scores showed clear differences in metabolism between the CUMS group and control group. The PLS-DA or OPLS-DA model exhibited 26 metabolites as biomarkers to distinguish between the CUMS mice and the control mouse. Moreover, IRFV could significantly return 21 metabolites to normal levels. Conclusion The results confirmed that IRFV exerted an antidepressive effect by regulating multiple metabolic pathways, including the tricarboxylic acid cycle, the synthesis of neurotransmitters, and amino acid metabolism. These findings provide insights into the antidepressive mechanisms of IRFV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongbiao Li
- School of Life Science and Engineering, Southwest Jiao Tong University, Chengdu, China.,Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Lanlan Wu
- School of Life Science and Engineering, Southwest Jiao Tong University, Chengdu, China.,Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Chang Chen
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Liwen Wang
- School of Life Science and Engineering, Southwest Jiao Tong University, Chengdu, China
| | - Cong Guo
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoqin Zhao
- School of Life Science and Engineering, Southwest Jiao Tong University, Chengdu, China
| | - Tingting Zhao
- School of Life Science and Engineering, Southwest Jiao Tong University, Chengdu, China.,Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xinyi Wang
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - An Liu
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zhiyong Yan
- School of Life Science and Engineering, Southwest Jiao Tong University, Chengdu, China
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Chen C, Yin Q, Tian J, Gao X, Qin X, Du G, Zhou Y. Studies on the potential link between antidepressant effect of Xiaoyao San and its pharmacological activity of hepatoprotection based on multi-platform metabolomics. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2020; 249:112432. [PMID: 31790818 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2019.112432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2019] [Revised: 11/25/2019] [Accepted: 11/25/2019] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) theory, depression is considered to be "liver qi stagnation", and relieving "liver qi stagnation" is regarded as an effective method for treating depression. Xiaoyao San (XYS) is a well-known TCM formula for the treatment of depression by relieving "liver qi stagnation". This formula consists of Radix Paeoniae Alba (Paeonia lactiflora Pall.), Radix Bupleuri (Bupleurum chinense DC.), Poria (Poria cocos (Schw.) Wolf), Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae (Atractylodes macrocephala Koidz.), Radix Angelicae Sinensis (Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels), Radix Glycyrrhizae (Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch.), Rhizoma Zingiberis Recens (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) and Herba Menthae Haplocalycis (Mentha haplocalyx Briq.). AIM OF THE STUDY Several studies have suggested that depression is associated with liver injury. XYS was a well-known TCM formula for the treatment of depression and liver stagnancy. However, it was still unknown whether the antidepressant effect of XYS is related to the pharmacological activity of hepatoprotection. The aim of this study was to elucidate the potential link between the antidepressant and hepatoprotective effect of XYS. MATERIALS AND METHODS A depression rat model was established by the CUMS (chronic unpredictable mild stress) procedure. The antidepressant effect of XYS was assessed by the behavioral indicators, and the hepatoprotective effect of XYS was evaluated through biochemical assays. 1H-NMR and LC/MS-based liver metabolomics were performed to discover key metabolic pathways involved in the antidepressant and hepatoprotective effects of XYS. Further, the key pathway was validated using commercial kits. RESULTS The results demonstrated that XYS pretreatment could significantly improve the depressive symptom induced by CUMS. More importantly, the results demonstrated that liver injury was observed in the CUMS model rats, and XYS had a hepatoprotective effect by reducing the activities of AST and ALT in serum, increasing the levels of SOD and GSH-Px and reducing the contents of MDA, IL-6, and IL-1β in the liver. In addition, the NMR and LC/MS-based metabolomics results indicated that XYS improved 23 of the 35 perturbed potential liver biomarkers that were induced by CUMS. Among them, 9 biomarkers were significantly correlated with both depression and liver pathology, according to Pearson correlation analysis. Metabolic pathway analyses of these 9 biomarkers showed that glutamine and glutamate metabolism were the most important metabolic pathways. Furthermore, to verify glutamine and glutamate metabolism, the levels of glutamine and glutamate, and the activity of glutamine synthetase (GS) and glutaminase (GLS) were quantitatively determined in the liver by commercial kits, and these results were consistent with the metabolomics results. CONCLUSIONS XYS could significantly improve the depressive and liver injury symptoms induced by CUMS. The metabolomics results indicate that the regulation of glutamine and glutamate metabolism to maintain the balance of ammonia and promote energy metabolism is a potential junction between the antidepressant and hepatoprotective effects of XYS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Congcong Chen
- Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine of Shanxi University, No.92, Wucheng Road, Taiyuan, 030006, PR China; College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shanxi University, No. 92, Wucheng Road, Taiyuan, 030006, PR China
| | - Qicai Yin
- Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine of Shanxi University, No.92, Wucheng Road, Taiyuan, 030006, PR China; College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shanxi University, No. 92, Wucheng Road, Taiyuan, 030006, PR China
| | - Junshen Tian
- Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine of Shanxi University, No.92, Wucheng Road, Taiyuan, 030006, PR China
| | - Xiaoxia Gao
- Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine of Shanxi University, No.92, Wucheng Road, Taiyuan, 030006, PR China
| | - Xuemei Qin
- Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine of Shanxi University, No.92, Wucheng Road, Taiyuan, 030006, PR China
| | - Guanhua Du
- Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine of Shanxi University, No.92, Wucheng Road, Taiyuan, 030006, PR China; Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, PR China
| | - Yuzhi Zhou
- Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine of Shanxi University, No.92, Wucheng Road, Taiyuan, 030006, PR China.
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Wang Y, Peng M. Research Progress on Classical Traditional Chinese Medicine Jieyu Pills in the Treatment of Depression. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat 2020; 16:3023-3033. [PMID: 33324063 PMCID: PMC7733407 DOI: 10.2147/ndt.s282384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2020] [Accepted: 11/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Depression is a common clinical psychological disease, which is called "yu zheng" in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). TCM has a long history in the treatment of depression (yu zheng), which has unique advantages. Jieyu pill (JYP), a classical TCM formula, has been widely used for treating depression because of its clear clinical efficacy, low side effects, and high compliance. In this review, we systematically introduce recent clinical and animal experimental studies on JYP and depression, and review the pharmacological mechanism and active ingredients of JYP, as well as its clinical application in depression therapy. This systematic review provides a deep understanding of TCM prescriptions, pharmacological mechanisms, and disease-medicine interactions, and lays the foundation for developing new treatments for depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Wang
- Department of Psychiatry, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, People's Republic of China
| | - Miao Peng
- Department of Psychiatry, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, People's Republic of China
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Chen C, Li HL, Yi Y, Fan HJ, Chen C. Network pharmacology-based study on the active substances and mechanism of Nao An Capsule in treatment of ischemic stroke. Eur J Integr Med 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.eujim.2019.100976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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