The Inhibitory Effect of Rhein on Proliferation of High Glucose-induced Mesangial Cell Through Cell Cycle Regulation and Induction of Cell Apoptosis

Exploring the mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effect of the drug pair Rhubarb-Coptis in diabetic nephropathy using network pharmacology and molecular docking analysis

Background

To use network pharmacology to explore the mechanism of the drug pair Rhubarb-Coptis in the treatment of diabetic nephropathy (DN).

Methods

The Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology (TCMSP) database was used to screen active ingredients of drug pair Rhubarb-Coptis. Targets were obtained using the TCMSP and SwissTargetPrediction databases. DN disease targets were extracted from the Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM), GeneCards, and Therapeutic Target database (TTD) databases. A "drug-compound-target" network and protein-protein interaction (PPI) network were constructed and analyzed through the Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes/Proteins (STRING) database and Cytoscape software. Gene Ontology (GO) functional and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses were performed in the Database for Annotation, Visualization, and Integrated Discovery (DAVID) database. Molecular docking was performed using AutoDock Vina and PyMOL software.

Results

A total of 30 active components and 609 targets of Rhubarb-Coptis were screened out, and 98 common targets of DN and Rhubarb-Coptis were obtained. Quercetin, berberine, epiruberine, epautin, and moupinamide were the main active components in the treatment of DN. The STAT3, CTNNB1, PIK3R1, PIK3CA, and TP53 genes were identified as the potential 5 key targets. The GO enrichment analysis showed that these 5 key targets mainly involved in inflammation, oxidative stress, and apoptosis. KEGG enrichment analysis showed that the pathways were mainly enriched in the AGE-RAGE and HIF-1 signaling pathways. Molecular docking revealed that the 5 key targets could combine well with their corresponding active compounds.

Conclusions

This study expounds the therapeutic effect of Rhubarb-Coptis on DN from a holistic perspective, and provides a valuable basis for clinical application and academic research.

Exploratory study of sea buckthorn enhancing QiangGuYin efficacy by inhibiting CKIP-1 and Notum activating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway and analysis of active ingredients by molecular docking

Background: Sea buckthorn (SBT) is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), rich in calcium, phosphorus, and vitamins, which can potentially prevent and treat osteoporosis. However, no research has been conducted to confirm these hypotheses. QiangGuYin (QGY) is a TCM compound used to treat osteoporosis. There is a need to investigate whether SBT enhances QGY efficacy.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to explore whether SBT enhances QGY efficacy by inhibiting CKIP-1 and Notum expression through the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. The study also aimed to explore the active components of SBT.

Methods: Experimental animals were divided into control, model, QGY, SBT, SBT + Eucommia ulmoides (EU), and SBT + QGY groups. After treatment, bone morphometric parameters, such as estrogen, PINP, and S-CTX levels, and Notum, CKIP-1, and β-catenin expression were examined. Screening of SBT active components was conducted by molecular docking to obtain small molecules that bind Notum and CKIP-1.

Results: The results showed that all the drug groups could elevate the estrogen, PINP, and S-CTX levels, improve femoral bone morphometric parameters, inhibit Notum and CKIP-1 expression, and promote β-catenin expression. The effect of SBT + EU and SBT + QGY was superior to the others. Molecular docking identified that SBT contains seven small molecules (folic acid, rhein, quercetin, kaempferol, mandenol, isorhamnetin, and ent-epicatechin) with potential effects on CKIP-1 and Notum.

Conclusion: SBT improves bone morphometric performance in PMOP rats by inhibiting CKIP-1 and Notum expression, increasing estrogen levels, and activating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Furthermore, SBT enhances the properties of QGY. Folic acid, rhein, quercetin, kaempferol, mandenol, isorhamnetin, and ent-epicatechin are the most likely active ingredients of SBT. These results provide insight into the pharmacological mechanisms of SBT in treating osteoporosis.

The progress and prospect of natural components in rhubarb (Rheum ribes L.) in the treatment of renal fibrosis

Background: Renal fibrosis is a key pathological change that occurs in the progression of almost all chronic kidney diseases . CKD has the characteristics of high morbidity and mortality. Its prevalence is increasing each year on a global scale, which seriously affects people’s health and quality of life. Natural products have been used for new drug development and disease treatment for many years. The abundant natural products in R. ribes L. can intervene in the process of renal fibrosis in different ways and have considerable therapeutic prospects.

Purpose: The etiology and pathology of renal fibrosis were analyzed, and the different ways in which the natural components of R. ribes L. can intervene and provide curative effects on the process of renal fibrosis were summarized. Methods: Electronic databases, such as PubMed, Life Science, MEDLINE, and Web of Science, were searched using the keywords ‘R. ribes L.’, ‘kidney fibrosis’, ‘emodin’ and ‘rhein’, and the various ways in which the natural ingredients protect against renal fibrosis were collected and sorted out.

Results: We analyzed several factors that play a leading role in the pathogenesis of renal fibrosis, such as the mechanism of the TGF-β/Smad and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathways. Additionally, we reviewed the progress of the treatment of renal fibrosis with natural components in R. ribes L. and the intervention mechanism of the crucial therapeutic targets.

Conclusion: The natural components of R. ribes L. have a wide range of intervention effects on renal fibrosis targets, which provides new ideas for the development of new anti-kidney fibrosis drugs.

A Significant Association Between Rhein and Diabetic Nephropathy in Animals: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background: Rhein is considered to have beneficial influence on diabetic nephropathy. Animal experiments suggested that the mechanisms of rhein against diabetic nephropathy may involve many processes, but the credibility of the evidence is unclear. Therefore, we conducted systematic review and meta-analysis of pre-clinical animal data to assess the current evidence for rhein effects and mechanisms in treating diabetic nephropathy.

Methods: The databases of PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, VIP information database, Wanfang Data Information Site, and Chinese Biomedical Literature were searched for this review. SYRCLE’s risk of bias tool for animal studies was applied to assess the methodological quality of studies. A meta-analysis was performed according to the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions by using RevMan 5.3 and STATA/SE 12.0 software. This study was registered with PROSPERO, number CRD42018105220.

Results: Twenty-five studies involving 537 animals were included. There was significant association of rhein with levels of blood glucose (P < 0.05), serum creatinine (Scr) (P < 0.05), urine protein (P < 0.05), kidney tubules injury index (P < 0.05), relative area of kidney collagen (P < 0.05), transforming growth factor-β₁ (P < 0.05), malondialdehyde (P < 0.05), and superoxide dismutase (P < 0.05) compared with that in the control group. No significant association between rhein and endothelin (P > 0.05) was found. Subgroup analysis showed that the hypoglycemic effect of rhein on type 2 diabetic nephropathy was better than on type 1 diabetic nephropathy (P < 0.05).

Conclusions: These findings suggested that rhein has beneficial effects on animal models of diabetic nephropathy, and that the mechanisms are mostly involved with ameliorating levels of TGF-β₁, renal fibrosis, metabolism, and oxidative stress status. However, some factors such as possible publication bias, methodological quality, and sample size may affect the accuracy of positive findings. These limitations suggested that a cautious interpretation of the positive results of this systematic review and meta-analysis is necessary. Therefore, high methodological quality and well-reported animal experiments are needed in future research.