Analysis of the Anti-Tumour Effect of Xuefu Zhuyu Decoction Based on Network Pharmacology and Experimental Verification in Drosophila

Mechanisms of Action of Potentilla discolor Bunge in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Based on Network Pharmacology and Experimental Verification in Drosophila

Purpose

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is associated with reduced insulin uptake and glucose metabolic capacity. Potentilla discolor Bunge (PDB) has been used to treat T2DM; however, the fundamental biological mechanisms remain unclear. This study aimed to understand the active ingredients, potential targets, and underlying mechanisms through which PDB treats T2DM.

Methods

Components and action targets were predicted using network pharmacology and molecular docking analyses. PDB extracts were prepared and validated through pharmacological intervention in a Cg>InRK1409A diabetes Drosophila model. Network pharmacology and molecular docking analyses were used to identify the key components and core targets of PDB in the treatment of T2DM, which were subsequently verified in animal experiments.

Results

Network pharmacology analysis revealed five effective compounds made up of 107 T2DM-related therapeutic targets and seven protein-protein interaction network core molecules. Molecular docking results showed that quercetin has a strong preference for interleukin-1 beta (IL1B), IL6, RAC-alpha serine/threonine-protein kinase 1 (AKT1), and cellular tumor antigen p53; kaempferol exhibited superior binding to tumor necrosis factor and AKT1; β-sitosterol demonstrated pronounced binding to Caspase-3 (CASP3). High-performance liquid chromatography data quantified quercetin, kaempferol, and β-sitosterol at proportions of 0.030%, 0.025%, and 0.076%, respectively. The animal experiments revealed that PDB had no effect on the development, viability, or fertility of Drosophila and it ameliorated glycolipid metabolism disorders in the diabetes Cg>InRK1409A fly. Furthermore, PDB improved the body size and weight of Drosophila, suggesting its potential to alleviate insulin resistance. Moreover, PDB improved Akt phosphorylation and suppressed CASP3 activity to improve insulin resistance in Drosophila with T2DM.

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that PDB ameliorates diabetes metabolism disorders in the fly model by enhancing Akt activity and suppressing CASP3 expression. This will facilitate the development of key drug targets and a potential therapeutic strategy for the clinical treatment of T2DM and related metabolic diseases.

Hirudin inhibit the formation of NLRP3 inflammasome in cardiomyocytes via suppressing oxidative stress and activating mitophagy

Context

Cardiomyocyte hypertrophy due to hemodynamic overload eventually leads to heart failure. Hirudin has been widely used in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases and NLRP3 inflammasome was proven to induce cardiomyocyte pyroptosis. However, the mechanism by which it inhibits cardiomyocyte hypertrophy remains unclear.

Objective

To explore the mechanism of hirudin inhibiting cardiomyocyte hypertrophy based on NLRP3 inflammasome activation and mitophagy.

Materials & methods

1 μM AngII was used for cardiac hypertrophy modeling in H9C2 cells, and cell viability was quantified by CCK-8 assay to screen the appropriate action concentrations of hirudin. After that, we cultured AngII induced-H9C2 cells for 24 h with 0, 0.3, 0.6, and 1.2 mM hirudin, respectively. Next, we marked H9C2 cells with phalloidine and observed them using fluorescence microscope. IL-1β, IL-18, IL-6, TNF-α, ANP, BNP, β-MHC, and mtDNA were analyzed by qRT-PCR; ROS were quantified by Flow cytometry; SOD, MDA, and GSH-Px were detected by ELISA; and proteins including NLRP3, ASC, caspase-1, pro-caspase-1, IL-1β, IL-18, PINK-1, Parkin, beclin-1, LC3-Ⅰ, LC3-Ⅱ, p62, were quantified by western blotting.

Results

It was discovered that hirudin reduced the superficial area of AngII-induced H9C2 cells and inhibited the AngII-induced up-regulation of ANP, BNP, and β-MHC. Besides, hirudin down-regulated the expressions of NLRP3 inflammasome-related cytokines, containing IL-1β, IL-18, IL-6, TNF-α. It also down-regulated the expression of mtDNA and ROS, decreased the expression levels of NLRP3 inflammasome activation related proteins, including NLRP3, ASC, caspase-1, pro-caspase-1, IL-1β, IL-18; and increased the expressions of PINK-1, Parkin, beclin-1, LC3-Ⅱ/LC3-Ⅰ, p62 in AngII-induced H9C2 cells.

Discussion

Hirudin promoted the process of mitophagy, inhibited the development of inflammation and oxidative stress, and inhibited the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome and the PINK-1/Parkin pathway.

Conclusion

Hirudin has the activity to suppress cardiac hypertrophy may benefit from the inhibition of NLRP3 inflammasome and activating of PINK-1/Parkin related-mitophagy.

Clinical efficacy and safety of Xuefu Zhuyu decoction in the treatment of diabetic kidney disease: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is one of the common complications of diabetes, the most crucial cause of end-stage renal disease, and a significant cause of death in diabetes patients. In recent years, Xuefu Zhuyu decoction has also been widely used in treating diabetic nephropathy. However, there need to be more systematic reviews that comprehensively describe the effectiveness and safety of Xuefu Zhuyu decoction in treating DKD. Therefore, we will conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the indicators of Xuefu Zhuyu decoction in the treatment of DKD to provide evidence-based support.

METHODS

Eligible published randomized controlled trials from January 2005 to October 2022 will be obtained by searching PubMed, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, Web of Science, CNKI, Wanfang, and VIP in Chinese and English. The Cochrane Collaboration Risk of bias tool will be used for methodological quality assessment and risk of bias. The meta-analysis will be performed using Cochrane RevMan 5.4 software.

RESULTS

This study will compare the following indicators: the primary outcomes: urinary albumin excretion rate and urea nitrogen. Secondary outcomes: blood creatinine; 24 hours urine protein quantification; glycosylated hemoglobin; fasting blood glucose; 2-hour postprandial blood glucose; total cholesterol; triglycerides; total effective rate; incidence of adverse events.

CONCLUSION

The results of this systematic review will provide an objective, evidence-based basis for judging the efficacy and safety of Xuefu Zhuyu decoction in treating DKD.