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Feng MC, Luo F, Huang LJ, Li K, Chen ZM, Li H, Yao C, Qin BJ, Chen GZ. Rheum palmatum L. and Salvia miltiorrhiza Bge. Alleviates Acute Pancreatitis by Regulating Th17 Cell Differentiation: An Integrated Network Pharmacology Analysis, Molecular Dynamics Simulation and Experimental Validation. Chin J Integr Med 2024; 30:408-420. [PMID: 37861962 DOI: 10.1007/s11655-023-3559-6] [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] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To identify the core targets of Rheum palmatum L. and Salvia miltiorrhiza Bge., (Dahuang-Danshen, DH-DS) and the mechanism underlying its therapeutic efficacy in acute pancreatitis (AP) using a network pharmacology approach and validate the findings in animal experiments. METHODS Network pharmacology analysis was used to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of DH-DS in AP. The reliability of the results was verified by molecular docking simulation and molecular dynamics simulation. Finally, the results of network pharmacology enrichment analysis were verified by immunohistochemistry, Western blot analysis and real-time quantitative PCR, respectively. RESULTS Sixty-seven common targets of DH-DS in AP were identified and mitogen-activated protein kinase 3 (MAPK3), Janus kinase 2 (JAK2), signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), protein c-Fos (FOS) were identified as core targets in the protein interaction (PPI) network analysis. Gene ontology analysis showed that cellular response to organic substance was the main functions of DH-DS in AP, and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analysis showed that the main pathway included Th17 cell differentiation. Molecular docking simulation confirmed that DH-DS binds with strong affinity to MAPK3, STAT3 and FOS. Molecular dynamics simulation revealed that FOS-isotanshinone II and STAT3-dan-shexinkum d had good binding capacity. Animal experiments indicated that compared with the AP model group, DH-DS treatment effectively alleviated AP by inhibiting the expression of interleukin-1β, interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α, and blocking the activation of Th17 cell differentiation (P<0.01). CONCLUSION DH-DS could inhibit the expression of inflammatory factors and protect pancreatic tissues, which would be functioned by regulating Th17 cell differentiation-related mRNA and protein expressions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min-Chao Feng
- The First Clinical Medical College, Guangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanning, 530000, China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Preventive Medicine, Nanning, 530000, China
| | - Fang Luo
- The First Clinical Medical College, Guangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanning, 530000, China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Preventive Medicine, Nanning, 530000, China
| | - Liang-Jiang Huang
- The First Clinical Medical College, Guangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanning, 530000, China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Preventive Medicine, Nanning, 530000, China
| | - Kai Li
- The First Clinical Medical College, Guangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanning, 530000, China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Preventive Medicine, Nanning, 530000, China
| | - Zu-Min Chen
- The First Clinical Medical College, Guangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanning, 530000, China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Preventive Medicine, Nanning, 530000, China
| | - Hui Li
- The First Clinical Medical College, Guangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanning, 530000, China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Preventive Medicine, Nanning, 530000, China
| | - Chun Yao
- Graduate School, Guangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanning, 530000, China
| | - Bai-Jun Qin
- The First Clinical Medical College, Guangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanning, 530000, China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Preventive Medicine, Nanning, 530000, China
| | - Guo-Zhong Chen
- Department of Gastroenterology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanning, 530023, China.
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Xiang X, You S, Zeng Z, Xu J, Lin Y, Liu Y, Zhang L, Huang R, Song C, Jin S. Exploration of the hypoglycemic mechanism of Fuzhuan brick tea based on integrating global metabolomics and network pharmacology analysis. Front Mol Biosci 2024; 10:1266156. [PMID: 38304230 PMCID: PMC10830801 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2023.1266156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 12/26/2023] [Indexed: 02/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Fuzhuan brick tea (FBT) is a worldwide popular beverage which has the appreciable potential in regulating glycometabolism. However, the reports on the hypoglycemic mechanism of FBT remain limited. Methods: In this study, the hypoglycemic effect of FBT was evaluated in a pharmacological experiment based on Kunming mice. Global metabolomics and network pharmacology were combined to discover the potential target metabolites and genes. In addition, the real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) analysis was performed for verification. Results: Seven potential target metabolites and six potential target genes were screened using the integrated approach. After RT-qPCR analysis, it was found that the mRNA expression of VEGFA, KDR, MAPK14, and PPARA showed significant differences between normal and diabetes mellitus mice, with a retracement after FBT treatment. Conclusion: These results indicated that the hypoglycemic effect of FBT was associated with its anti-inflammatory activities and regulation of lipid metabolism disorders. The exploration of the hypoglycemic mechanism of FBT would be meaningful for its further application and development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingliang Xiang
- School of Pharmacy, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- School of Life and Health Sciences, Hainan University, Haikou, Hainan, China
| | - Shanqin You
- School of Pharmacy, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Zhaoxiang Zeng
- School of Pharmacy, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Jinlin Xu
- School of Pharmacy, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Department of Pharmacy, Ezhou Central Hospital, Ezhou, Hubei, China
| | - Yuqi Lin
- School of Pharmacy, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Yukun Liu
- School of Pharmacy, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Lijun Zhang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Rongzeng Huang
- School of Pharmacy, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Hubei Shizhen Laboratory, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Chengwu Song
- School of Pharmacy, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Hubei Shizhen Laboratory, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Shuna Jin
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Hubei Shizhen Laboratory, Wuhan, Hubei, China
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Wu S, Chen R, Chen J, Yang N, Li K, Zhang Z, Zhang R. Study of the Anti-Inflammatory Mechanism of β-Carotene Based on Network Pharmacology. Molecules 2023; 28:7540. [PMID: 38005265 PMCID: PMC10673508 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28227540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2023] [Revised: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
β-carotene is known to have pharmacological effects such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-tumor properties. However, its main mechanism and related signaling pathways in the treatment of inflammation are still unclear. In this study, component target prediction was performed by using literature retrieval and the SwissTargetPrediction database. Disease targets were collected from various databases, including DisGeNET, OMIM, Drug Bank, and GeneCards. A protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed, and enrichment analysis of gene ontology and biological pathways was carried out for important targets. The analysis showed that there were 191 unique targets of β-carotene after removing repeat sites. A total of 2067 targets from the three databases were integrated, 58 duplicate targets were removed, and 2009 potential disease action targets were obtained. Biological function enrichment analysis revealed 284 biological process (BP) entries, 31 cellular component (CC) entries, 55 molecular function (MF) entries, and 84 cellular pathways. The biological processes were mostly associated with various pathways and their regulation, whereas the cell components were mainly membrane components. The main molecular functions included RNA polymerase II transcription factor activity, DNA binding specific to the ligand activation sequence, DNA binding, steroid binding sequence-specific DNA binding, enzyme binding, and steroid hormone receptors. The pathways involved in the process included the TNF signaling pathway, sphingomyelin signaling pathway, and some disease pathways. Lastly, the anti-inflammatory signaling pathway of β-carotene was systematically analyzed using network pharmacology, while the molecular mechanism of β-carotene was further explored by molecular docking. In this study, the anti-inflammatory mechanism of β-carotene was preliminarily explored and predicted by bioinformatics methods, and further experiments will be designed to verify and confirm the predicted results, in order to finally reveal the anti-inflammatory mechanism of β-carotene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shilin Wu
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Enzymology, Yangtze Delta Region Institute of Tsinghua University, Jiaxing 314006, China
- College of Fisheries and Life Science, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China
| | - Ran Chen
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Enzymology, Yangtze Delta Region Institute of Tsinghua University, Jiaxing 314006, China
- College of Fisheries and Life Science, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China
| | - Jingyun Chen
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Enzymology, Yangtze Delta Region Institute of Tsinghua University, Jiaxing 314006, China
- College of Fisheries and Life Science, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China
| | - Ning Yang
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Enzymology, Yangtze Delta Region Institute of Tsinghua University, Jiaxing 314006, China
- College of Fisheries and Life Science, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China
| | - Kun Li
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Enzymology, Yangtze Delta Region Institute of Tsinghua University, Jiaxing 314006, China
- College of Fisheries and Life Science, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China
| | - Zhen Zhang
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Enzymology, Yangtze Delta Region Institute of Tsinghua University, Jiaxing 314006, China
- College of Fisheries and Life Science, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China
| | - Rongqing Zhang
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Enzymology, Yangtze Delta Region Institute of Tsinghua University, Jiaxing 314006, China
- College of Fisheries and Life Science, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China
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Lin C, Liu Z, Chen J, Wang X, Zhang R, Wu L, Li L. Integrate UPLC-QE-MS/MS and Network Pharmacology to Investigate the Active Components and Action Mechanisms of Tea Cake Extract for Treating Cough. Biomed Chromatogr 2022; 36:e5442. [PMID: 35781817 DOI: 10.1002/bmc.5442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2022] [Revised: 06/28/2022] [Accepted: 06/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Investigate the active components and mechanisms of tea cake extract (TCE) for treating cough. METHODS The components of TCE were tentatively identified by ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography coupled with Q-Exactive MS/MS (UPLC-QE-MS/MS), whose targets were obtained from databases of Swiss Target Prediction and traditional Chinese medicine systems pharmacology database and analysis platform (TCMSP). Cough-related targets were retrieved from databases of Gene cards and Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM). After intersection targets were obtained, enrichment analysis of Gene Ontology (GO) and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway was performed, and protein-protein interactions (PPI) network and active compound-intersection target-KEGG pathway network was constructed. Core active compounds and their targets were validated with molecular docking. RESULTS Total of 78 compounds were identified from TCE, including 24 flavonoids, 17 phenolic acids, 10 alkaloids, 7 organic acids, 5 triterpenes, 5 amino acids, 5 coumarins, 3 carbohydrates, 1 anthraquinone and 1 other. 347 intersection targets were obtained. The top 5 GO terms with most significant P-values were response to oxygen-containing compound, response to organic substance, response to chemical, cellular response to chemical stimulus, and regulation of biological quality. The top 5 KEGG pathways with most significant P-values were: PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, lipid and atherosclerosis, human cytomegalovirus infection, fluid shear stress and atherosclerosis, and proteoglycans in cancer. The top 5 core active compounds were: quercetin, genistein, luteolin, kaempferol and emodin. The top 5 core targets were: protein kinase B (Akt1), prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2 (PTGS2), mitogen-activated protein kinase 1/3 (MAPK1/3), and phosphoinositide-3-kinase regulatory subunit 1 (PIK3R1). The top 5 core active compounds could stably bind to their targets with LibDockScore higher than 100. CONCLUSION TCE plays the antitussive role by multiple components and targets. Core targets (AKT1, MAPK1, MAPK3 and PIK3R1) and core components (quercetin, genistein, luteolin and kaempferol) involved in the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway are worth more attention in subsequent validation experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng Lin
- Pharmacy College, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, Jiangxi, China
| | - Zhiping Liu
- School of Basic Medicine, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, Jiangxi, China
| | - Jia Chen
- National Institutes for Food and Drug Control, Beijing, China
| | - Xuanxuan Wang
- Pharmacy College, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, Jiangxi, China
| | - Rui Zhang
- Pharmacy College, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, Jiangxi, China
| | - Longhuo Wu
- Pharmacy College, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, Jiangxi, China
| | - Linfu Li
- Pharmacy College, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, Jiangxi, China
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Wang H, Hou X, Li B, Yang Y, Li Q, Si Y. Study on Active Components of Cuscuta chinensis Promoting Neural Stem Cells Proliferation: Bioassay-Guided Fractionation. Molecules 2021; 26:molecules26216634. [PMID: 34771043 PMCID: PMC8586919 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26216634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2021] [Revised: 10/20/2021] [Accepted: 10/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Neural stem cells (NSCs) exist in the central nervous system of adult animals and capable of self-replication. NSCs have two basic functions, namely the proliferation ability and the potential for multi-directional differentiation. In this study, based on the bioassay-guided fractionation, we aim to screen active components in Cuscuta chinensis to promote the proliferation of NSCs. CCK-8 assays were used as an active detection method to track the active components. On the basis of isolating active fraction and monomer compounds, the structures of these were identified by LC-MS and (1H, 13C) NMR. Moreover, active components were verified by pharmacodynamics and network pharmacology. The system solvent extraction method combined with the traditional isolation method were used to ensure that the fraction TSZE-EA-G6 of Cuscuta chinensis exhibited the highest activity. Seven chemical components were identified from the TSZE-EA-G6 fraction by UPLC-QE-Orbitrap-MS technology, which were 4-O-p-coumarinic acid, chlorogenic acid, 5-O-p-coumarinic acid, hyperoside, astragalin, isochlorogenic acid C, and quercetin-3-O-galactose-7-O-glucoside. Using different chromatographic techniques, five compounds were isolated in TSZE-EA-G6 and identified as kaempferol, kaempferol-3-O-glucoside (astragalin), quercetin-3-O-galactoside (hyperoside), chlorogenic acid, and sucrose. The activity study of these five compounds showed that the proliferation rate of kaempferol had the highest effects; at a certain concentration (25 μg/mL, 3.12 μg/mL), the proliferation rate could reach 87.44% and 59.59%, respectively. Furthermore, research results using network pharmacology techniques verified that kaempferol had an activity of promoting NSCs proliferation and the activity of flavonoid aglycones might be greater than that of flavonoid glycosides. In conclusion, this research shows that kaempferol is the active component in Cuscuta chinensis to promote the proliferation of NSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanze Wang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun 130117, China;
| | - Xiaomeng Hou
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 102488, China; (X.H.); (B.L.); (Y.Y.)
| | - Bingqi Li
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 102488, China; (X.H.); (B.L.); (Y.Y.)
| | - Yang Yang
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 102488, China; (X.H.); (B.L.); (Y.Y.)
| | - Qiang Li
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 102488, China; (X.H.); (B.L.); (Y.Y.)
- Correspondence: (Q.L.); (Y.S.)
| | - Yinchu Si
- Department of Anatomy, School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 102488, China
- Correspondence: (Q.L.); (Y.S.)
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Chen Z, Lv Y, Xu H, Deng L. Herbal Medicine, Gut Microbiota, and COVID-19. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:646560. [PMID: 34305582 PMCID: PMC8293616 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.646560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2020] [Accepted: 06/25/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Coronavirus Disease 19 (COVID-19) is a respiratory disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which has grown to a worldwide pandemic with substantial mortality. The symptoms of COVID-19 range from mild flu-like symptoms, including cough and fever, to life threatening complications. There are still quite a number of patients with COVID-19 showed enteric symptoms including nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. The gastrointestinal tract may be one of the target organs of SARS-CoV-2. Angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is the main receptor of SARS-CoV-2 virus, which is significantly expressed in intestinal cells. ACE2 links amino acid malnutrition to microbial ecology and intestinal inflammation. Intestinal flora imbalance and endotoxemia may accelerate the progression of COVID-19. Many herbs have demonstrated properties relevant to the treatment of COVID-19, by supporting organs and systems of the body affected by the virus. Herbs can restore the structure of the intestinal flora, which may further modulate the immune function after SARS-CoV-2 infection. Regulation of intestinal flora by herbal medicine may be helpful for the treatment and recovery of the disease. Understanding the role of herbs that regulate intestinal flora in fighting respiratory virus infections and maintaining intestinal flora balance can provide new ideas for preventing and treating COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziqi Chen
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China.,Medical College, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yiwen Lv
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Huachong Xu
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Li Deng
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
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Nile SH, Su J, Wu D, Wang L, Hu J, Sieniawska E, Kai G. Fritillaria thunbergii Miq. (Zhe Beimu): A review on its traditional uses, phytochemical profile and pharmacological properties. Food Chem Toxicol 2021; 153:112289. [PMID: 34029669 DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2021.112289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2021] [Revised: 05/06/2021] [Accepted: 05/14/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Fritillaria thunbergii Miq. (Zhe beimu) ranked as oldest known homeopathic traditional folk medicine in China. The bulbs are medicinally important curing cough, inflammation, gastric ulcers, hypertension, diarrhea, and bronchitis. The aim of this review is to enlighten the deeper knowledge about F. thunbergii giving a comprehensive overview on its traditional uses, phytochemistry and pharmacology for future investigation of plant-based drugs and therapeutic applications. Total 48 medicinally important species of Fritillaria were described; total 122 compounds have been identified as results only 72 chemical constituents were described with proper chemical and biological details. F. thunbergii and its bulbs mainly constitute alkaloids, essential oils, diterpenoids, carbohydrates, sterols, amino acids, nucleosides, fatty acids, and lignans. The pharmacological studies demonstrate that F. thunbergii and its bulbs displays a wide range of bioactivities e.g., anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antitussive, expectorant, anti-ulcer, antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-thyroid, regulation of blood rheology, anti-diarrhea, neuroprotection, and analgesic effects. Although promising reports on the various chemical bioactive constituents and biological properties of F. thunbergii have been published, very few reviews are related specifically to the traditional uses, phytochemistry and pharmacological applications. Further, various other studies on these plants should deserve our more attention for future investigation for drug development and its therapeutic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shivraj Hariram Nile
- Laboratory of Medicinal Plant Biotechnology, College of Pharmacy, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310053, PR China
| | - Jiajia Su
- Laboratory of Medicinal Plant Biotechnology, College of Pharmacy, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310053, PR China
| | - Die Wu
- Laboratory of Medicinal Plant Biotechnology, College of Pharmacy, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310053, PR China
| | - Leran Wang
- Laboratory of Medicinal Plant Biotechnology, College of Pharmacy, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310053, PR China
| | - Jiangning Hu
- Zhejiang Conba Pharmaceutical Limited Company, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Pharmaceutical Technology, Hangzhou, 310052, PR China
| | - Elwira Sieniawska
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Medical University of Lublin, Chodzki 1, 20-093, Lublin, Poland.
| | - Guoyin Kai
- Laboratory of Medicinal Plant Biotechnology, College of Pharmacy, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310053, PR China.
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Systematically Deciphering the Pharmacological Mechanism of Fructus Aurantii via Network Pharmacology. EVIDENCE-BASED COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE 2021; 2021:6236135. [PMID: 33542744 PMCID: PMC7843179 DOI: 10.1155/2021/6236135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2020] [Revised: 11/26/2020] [Accepted: 12/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Fructus Aurantii (FA) is a traditional herbal medicine that has been widely used for thousands of years in China and possesses a variety of pharmacological effects. However, the active ingredients in FA and the potential mechanisms of its therapeutic effects have not been fully explored. Here, we applied a network pharmacology approach to explore the potential mechanisms of FA. We identified 5 active compounds from FA and a total of 209 potential targets to construct a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network. Prostaglandin G/H synthase 2 (PTGS2), heat shock protein 90 (HSP90), cell division protein kinase 6 (CDK6), caspase 3 (CASP3), apoptosis regulator Bcl-2 (Bcl-2), and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP9) were identified as key targets of FA in the treatment of multiple diseases. Gene ontology (GO) enrichment demonstrated that FA was highly related to transcription initiation from RNA polymerase II promoter, DNA-templated transcription, positive regulation of transcription, regulation of apoptosis process, and regulation of cell proliferation. Various signaling pathways involved in the treatment of FA were identified, including pathways in cancer and pathways specifically related to prostate cancer, colorectal cancer, PI3K-Akt, apoptosis, and non-small-cell lung cancer. TP53, AKT1, caspase 3, MAPK3, PTGS2, and BAX/BCL2 were related key targets in the identified enriched pathways and the PPI network. In addition, our molecular docking results showed that the bioactive compounds in FA can tightly bind to most target proteins. This article reveals via network pharmacology research the possible mechanism(s) by which FA exerts its activities in the treatment of various diseases and lays a foundation for further experiments and the development of a rational clinical application of FA.
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Tu P, Tian R, Lu Y, Zhang Y, Zhu H, Ling L, Li H, Chen D. Beneficial effect of Indigo Naturalis on acute lung injury induced by influenza A virus. Chin Med 2020; 15:128. [PMID: 33349263 PMCID: PMC7750395 DOI: 10.1186/s13020-020-00415-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2020] [Accepted: 12/11/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Infections induced by influenza viruses, as well as coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) pandemic induced by severe acute respiratory coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) led to acute lung injury (ALI) and multi organ failure, during which traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) played an important role in treatment of the pandemic. The study aimed to investigate the effect of Indigo Naturalis on ALI induced by influenza A virus (IAV) in mice. Method The anti-influenza and anti-inflammatory properties of aqueous extract of Indigo Naturalis (INAE) were evaluated in vitro. BALB/c mice inoculated intranasally with IAV (H1N1) were treated intragastrically with INAE (40, 80 and 160 mg/kg/day) 2 h later for 4 or 7 days. Animal lifespan and mortality were recorded. Expression of high mobility group box-1 protein (HMGB-1) and toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) were evaluated through immunohistological staining. Inflammatory cytokines were also monitored by ELISA. Result INAE inhibited virus replication on Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells and decreased nitric oxide (NO) production from lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated peritoneal macrophages in vitro. The results showed that oral administration of 160 mg/kg of INAE significantly improved the lifespan (P < 0.01) and survival rate of IAV infected mice, improved lung injury and lowered viral replication in lung tissue (P < 0.01). Treatment with INAE (40, 80 and 160 mg/kg) significantly increased liver weight and liver index (P < 0.05), as well as weight and organ index of thymus and spleen at 160 mg/kg (P < 0.05). Serum alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels were reduced by INAE administration (P < 0.05). The expression of HMGB-1 and TLR4 in lung tissue were also suppressed. The increased production of myeloperoxidase (MPO) and methylene dioxyamphetamine (MDA) in lung tissue were inhibited by INAE treatment (P < 0.05). Treatment with INAE reduced the high levels of interferon α (IFN-α), interferon β (IFN-β), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), regulated upon activation normal T cell expressed and secreted factor (RANTES), interferon induced protein-10 (IP-10), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6) (P < 0.05), with increased production of interferon γ (IFN-γ) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) (P < 0.05). Conclusion The results showed that INAE alleviated IAV induced ALI in mice. The mechanisms of INAE were associated with its anti-influenza, anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidation properties. Indigo Naturalis might have clinical potential to treat ALI induced by IAV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Tu
- Department of Natural Medicine, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, No. 826, Zhangheng Road, Shanghai, 201203, People's Republic of China
| | - Rong Tian
- Department of Natural Medicine, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, No. 826, Zhangheng Road, Shanghai, 201203, People's Republic of China
| | - Yan Lu
- Department of Natural Medicine, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, No. 826, Zhangheng Road, Shanghai, 201203, People's Republic of China
| | - Yunyi Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, No. 826, Zhangheng Road, Shanghai, 201203, People's Republic of China
| | - Haiyan Zhu
- Department of Microbiological and Biochemical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, No. 826, Zhangheng Road, Shanghai, 201203, People's Republic of China
| | - Lijun Ling
- Department of Natural Medicine, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, No. 826, Zhangheng Road, Shanghai, 201203, People's Republic of China
| | - Hong Li
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, No. 826, Zhangheng Road, Shanghai, 201203, People's Republic of China.
| | - Daofeng Chen
- Department of Natural Medicine, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, No. 826, Zhangheng Road, Shanghai, 201203, People's Republic of China.
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