Uncovering Mechanism and Efficacy of Salvia Miltiorrhiza-Safflower in Cerebral Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury

Cerebral ischemia (CI) is the main cause of stroke morbidity and disability. This study aims to identify the early molecular regulation responsible for the therapeutic effectiveness of the Herb pair Danshen-Honghua (DH) for CI. The major targets of DH were identified by searching the public database of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). In addition, GeneCards, Disgenet, and GeneMap databases in OMIM were used to determine the disease targets of CI. A total of 88 common targets of DH and CI were selected, a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was established by Cytoscape, and 19 core targets were screened. These genes were primarily enriched in biological processes including wound healing, reaction to oxidative stress, and response to peptides, lipid and atherosclerosis, Age-rage signaling pathway, and TNF signaling pathway by KEGG and GO enrichments. The effective components of DH had stable binding to these key targets by molecular docking. Finally, it was verified that the mechanism of DH on CI treatment may be related to the activation of the TNF-α/JNK signaling pathway by establishing the middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) rat model.

Comparative Efficacy of East Asian Herbal Formulae Containing Astragali Radix-Cinnamomi Ramulus Herb-Pair against Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy and Mechanism Prediction: A Bayesian Network Meta-Analysis Integrated with Network Pharmacology

The Astragali Radix-Cinnamomi Ramulus herb-pair (ACP) has been widely used in the treatment of diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) as part of East Asian herbal medicine (EAHM). Eligible randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were identified by searching 10 databases. The outcomes investigated were response rate, sensory nerve conduction velocity (SNCV), and motor nerve conduction velocity (MNCV) in four regions of the body. The compounds in the ACP and their targets of action, disease targets, common targets, and other relevant information were filtered using network pharmacology. Forty-eight RCTs, with 4308 participants, and 16 different interventions were identified. Significant differences were observed in the response rate, MNCV, and SNCV, as all EAHM interventions were superior to conventional medicine or lifestyle modification. The EAHM formula containing the ACP ranked highest in more than half of the assessed outcomes. Furthermore, major compounds, such as quercetin, kaempferol, isorhamnetin, formononetin, and beta-sitosterol, were found to suppress the symptoms of DPN. The results of this study suggest that EAHM may increase therapeutic efficacy in DPN management, and EAHM formulations containing the ACP may be more suitable for improving treatment response rates to NCV and DPN therapy.

[A new strategy for exploring herb-pair investigation with a case study on Astragali Radix-Corni Fructus in treatment of diabetic nephropathy]

As the smallest unit of traditional Chinese medicinal formula compatibility, herb-pair has the basic characteristic of traditional Chinese medicinal formula compatibility. In recent years, herb-pair investigation has attracted much attention, which is an indispensable part of modernization of traditional Chinese medicine. With the decrease of the efficiency in the discovery of new drug, how to discover new drugs from traditional Chinese medicinal herb-pair has also been a bottleneck for the research and development of drug. The authors reviewed the domestic and foreign literatures in the latest years and summarized the current situations and the existing problems of herb-pair study. Based on these investigations, the authors innovatively proposed a novel concept of "precision herb-pair". Difference from traditional Chinese medicinal herb-pair or formulae with extensive roles and unclear efficacies, "precision herb-pair" belongs to a developed new mini herb-pair formula with an exact treatment and a relatively clear composition based on a certain specific disease. In addition, the authors also proposed a new strategy of "herb-pair - screen of multiple constituents based on column separation and in vitro cell viability - fuzzy target recognition pharmacology - re-evaluation of precision herb-pair", and successfully applied it to the development of a precision herb-pair from Astragali Radix-Corni Fructus in treatment of diabetic nephropathy. This proposed new strategy is simple, easy to carry out, and has a wide application, and can offer references and thoughts for the modern investigation of herb-pair and the research and development of new drug.

Antipyretic and anti-asthmatic activities of traditional Chinese herb-pairs, Ephedra and Gypsum

OBJECTIVE

Mahuang-Shigao herb-pair is a famous formula composed of Ephedra and Gypsum. The herb-pair is frequently used for treating cold symptoms and bronchial asthma in the clinical practice of Chinese medicine (CM). In the present study, we evaluated evidence for the benefit of combined use of Ephedra and Gypsum by analyzing the antipyretic and anti-asthmatic activities of Ephedra-Gypsum.

METHODS

The antipyretic effects of Ephedra-Gypsum were evaluated in yeast-induced hyperthermia test. Thirty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 5 groups, including control group, standard aspirin group, and 3 Ephedra- Gypsum groups of different doses (6, 12, 24 g/kg). Ephedra-Gypsum extract and asprin were administered orally 6 h after the injection of yeast solution and body temperature was measured every 1 h for 8 h. The antiasthmatic effects of Ephedra-Gypsum were evaluated using an ovalbumin (OVA)-induced asthmatic rat model. Thirty-six male SD rats were randomly divided into 6 groups. Rats were alternately sensitized and OVA+Al(OH) challenged by exposure to mists of ovalbumin. Ephedra-Gypsum extracts (6, 12, 24 g/kg) or dexamethasone were administered 45 min prior to the allergen challenge for 8 days. Latent period and the weight of wet to dry ratio of lung were determined. In addition, the eosinophils in blood and white blood cell (WBC) were counted by an YZ-Hemavet Analyzer.

RESULTS

The Ephedra-Gypsum extracts at test dose (6, 12, 24 g/kg) significantly and dose-dependently attenuated yeast-induced fever in rats. The Ephedra-Gypsum extracts also prolonged the latent period, reduced OVA-induced increases in eosinophils and WBC, and decreased the wet and dry weight ratio of the lungs in the anti-asthmatic test.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings indicate that the Ephedra-Gypsum extract has antipyretic and anti-asthmatic properties. Hence, the results support additional scientific evidence in prescriptions.