A network pharmacology approach to investigate the blood enriching mechanism of Danggui buxue Decoction

Dihydromyricetin-loaded oxidized polysaccharide/L-arginine chitosan adhesive hydrogel promotes bone regeneration by regulating PI3K/AKT signaling pathway and MAPK signaling pathway

Bone defects caused by trauma, infection and congenital diseases still face great challenges. Dihydromyricetin (DHM) is a kind of flavone extracted from Ampelopsis grossedentata, a traditional Chinese medicine. DHM can enhance the osteogenic differentiation of human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells with the potential to promote bone regeneration. Hydrogel can be used as a carrier of DHM to promote bone regeneration due to its unique biochemical characteristics and three-dimensional structure. In this study, oxidized phellinus igniarius polysaccharides (OP) and L-arginine chitosan (CA) are used to develop hydrogel. The pore size and gel strength of the hydrogel can be changed by adjusting the oxidation degree of oxidized phellinus igniarius polysaccharides. The addition of DHM further reduce the pore size of the hydrogel (213 μm), increase the mechanical properties of the hydrogel, and increase the antioxidant and antibacterial activities of the hydrogel. The scavenging rate of DPPH are 72.30 ± 0.33 %, and the inhibition rate of E.coli and S.aureus are 93.12 ± 0.38 % and 94.49 ± 1.57 %, respectively. In addition, PCAD has good adhesion and biocompatibility, and its extract can effectively promote the osteogenic differentiation of MC3T3-E1 cells. Network pharmacology and molecular docking show that the promoting effect of DHM on osteogenesis may be achieved by activating the PI3K/AKT and MAPK signaling pathways. This is confirmed through in vitro cell experiments and in vivo animal experiments.

Systematic investigation on the pharmaceutical components and mechanism of the treatment against zebrafish enteritis by Sporisorium reilianum f. sp. reilianum based on histomorphology and pathology

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Sporisorium reilianum f. sp. reilianum (SSR) is a fungus isolated from a medicinal plant. Recorded in the "Compilation of National Chinese Herbal Medicine" and "Compendium of Materia Medica," it was used for preventing and treating intestinal diseases, enhancing immune function, etc. In this study, we investigated the chemical composition and bioactivity of SSR. Network pharmacology is utilized for predictive analysis and targeting pathway studies of anti-inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) mechanisms. Pharmacological activity against enteritis is evaluated using zebrafish (Danio rerio) as model animals.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To reveal the treatment of IBD by SSR used as traditional medicine and food, based on molecular biology identification of SSR firstly, and the pharmaceutical components & its toxicities, biological activity & mechanism of SSR were explored.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Using chromatography and zebrafish IBD model induced by dextran sulfate sodium (DSS), nine compounds were first identified by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). The toxicity of ethanol crude extract and monomers from SSR were evaluated by evaluating the phenotypic characteristics of zebrafish embryos and larvae, histomorphology and pathology of the zebrafish model guided by network pharmacology were conducted.

RESULTS

The zebrafish embryo development did not show toxicity. The molecular docking and enrichment pathway results predicted that metabolites 3 & 4 (N-trans- feruloyl-3-methoxytyramine & N-cis-feruloyl-3-methoxytyramine) and 7 & 8 (4-N- trans-p-coumaroyltyramine & 4-N-cis--p-coumaroyltyramine) have anti-enteritis activities. This paper lays an experimental foundation for developing new drugs and functional foods.

The therapeutic potential of traditional Chinese medicine in depression: focused on the modulation of neuroplasticity

Depression, a mood disorder characterized by a persistent low mood and lack of enjoyment, is considered the leading cause of non-fatal health losses worldwide. Neuroplasticity refers to the brain's ability to adapt to external or internal stimuli, resulting in functional and structural changes. This process plays a crucial role in the development of depression. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) shows significant potential as a complementary and alternative therapy for neurological diseases, including depression. However, there has been no systematic summary of the role of neuroplasticity in the pathological development of depression and TCM Interventions currently. This review systematically summarized recent literature on changes in neuroplasticity in depression and analyzed the regulatory mechanisms of active metabolites in TCM and TCM formulas on neuroplasticity in antidepressant treatment. Additionally, this review discussed the limitations of current research and the application prospects of TCM in regulating neuroplasticity in antidepressant research.

Graveoline attenuates D-GalN/LPS-induced acute liver injury via inhibition of JAK1/STAT3 signaling pathway

Graveoline exhibits various biological activities. However, only limited studies have focused on its hepatoprotective properties. This study evaluated the anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective activities of graveoline, a minor 2-phenylquinolin-4-one alkaloid isolated from Ruta graveolens L., in a liver injury model in vitro and in vivo. A network pharmacology approach was used to investigate the potential signaling pathway associated with the hepatoprotective activity of graveoline. Subsequently, biological experiments were conducted to validate the findings. Topological analysis of the KEGG pathway enrichment revealed that graveoline mediates its hepatoprotective activity through genes associated with the hepatitis B viral infection pathway. Biological experiments demonstrated that graveoline effectively reduced the levels of alanine transaminase and aspartate transaminase in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced HepG2 cells. Graveoline exerted antihepatitic activity by inhibiting the pro-inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and elevated the anti-inflammatory cytokines interleukin-4 (IL-4) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) in vitro and in vivo. Additionally, graveoline exerted its hepatoprotective activity by inhibiting JAK1 and STAT3 phosphorylation both in vitro and in vivo. In summary, graveoline can attenuate acute liver injury by inhibiting the TNF-α inflammasome, activating IL-4 and IL-10, and suppressing the JAK1/STAT3 signaling pathway. This study sheds light on the potential of graveoline as a promising therapeutic agent for treating liver injury.

Metabolomic Approach to Identify the Potential Metabolites from Alpinia malaccensis for Treating SARS-CoV-2 Infection

The advent of the new coronavirus, leading to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, has presented a substantial worldwide health hazard since its inception in the latter part of 2019. The severity of the current pandemic is exacerbated by the occurrence of re-infection or co-infection with SARS-CoV-2. Hence, comprehending the molecular process underlying the pathophysiology of sepsis and discerning possible molecular targets for therapeutic intervention holds significant importance. For the first time, 31 metabolites were tentatively identified by GC-MS analysis from Alpinia malaccensis. On the other hand, five phenolic compounds were identified and quantified from the plant in HPLC-DAD analysis, including (-) epicatechin, rutin hydrate, rosmarinic acid, quercetin, and kaempferol. Nine GC-MS and five HPLC-identified metabolites had shown interactions with 45 and 30 COVID-19-associated human proteins, respectively. Among the proteins, PARP1, FN1, PRKCA, EGFR, ALDH2, AKR1C3, AHR, and IKBKB have been found as potential therapeutic targets to mitigate SARS-CoV-2 infection. KEGG pathway analysis also showed a strong association of FN1, EGFR, and IKBKB genes with SARS-CoV-2 viral replication and cytokine overexpression due to viral infection. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) analysis also showed that TP53, MMP9, FN1, EGFR, and NOS2 proteins are highly related to the genes involved in COVID-19 comorbidity. These proteins showed interaction with the plant phytoconstituents as well. As the study offers a robust network-based procedure for identifying biomolecules relevant to COVID-19 disease, A. malaccensis could be a good source of effective therapeutic agents against COVID-19 and related viral diseases.

TMT-based proteomics analysis of the blood enriching mechanism of the total Tannins of Gei Herba in mice

Lanbuzheng (LBZ) is the traditional seedling medicine in Guizhou, which has the effect of tonifying blood. It has been found that the main active ingredient is tannin, however, the blood-replenishing effect of tannin and its mechanism are still unclear. The study was to explore the mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of the total Tannins of Lanbuzheng (LBZT) against anemia in mice. Anemia mice was induced by cyclophosphamide, the effect of LBZT against anemia was determined by analyzing peripheral blood and evaluating organs indexes. Tandem mass tag (TMT)-based quantitative proteomics technology coupled with bioinformatics analysis was then used to identify differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) in spleen. Compared to the model, number of RBCs, PLTs and WBCs, HCT ratio and HGB content were increased, the indexes of thymus, spleen and liver were also increased, after LBZT intervention. A total of 377 DEPs were identified in LBZT group, of which 206 DEPs were significantly up-regulated and 171 DEPs were significantly down-regulated. Bioinformatics analysis showed that hematopoietic function has been restored by activating the complement and coagulation cascade signaling pathways. Results suggest that LBZT exerts it therapeutic effects against anemia by regulating complement and coagulation cascade signaling pathways and provides scientific basis for further mechanistic studies for LBZT.

Discovery and validation of COX2 as a target of flavonoids in Apocyni Veneti Folium: Implications for the treatment of liver injury

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Apocyni Veneti Folium (AVF), a popular traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), is known for its effects in soothing the liver and nerves and eliminating heat and water. It is relevant from an ethnopharmacological perspective. Pharmacological research has confirmed its benefits on antihypertension, antihyperlipidemia, antidepression, liver protection, immune system boosting, antiaging, and diabetic vascular lesions. Previous studies have shown that flavonoids, the active ingredients, have a hepatoprotective effect. However, the exact mechanism has not been clarified.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study aimed to identify the active flavonoids in AVF and their corresponding targets for liver injury. Multiple methods were introduced to confirm the targets.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

AVF compounds were analyzed using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). Then, network pharmacology was utilized to screen potential hepatoprotection targets of the compounds. An enzyme activity assay was performed to determine the effect of the compounds on the targets. Biolayer interferometry (BLI) was applied to confirm the direct interaction between the compounds and the targets.

RESULTS

A total of 71 compounds were identified by LC-MS and 19 compounds and 112 shared targets were screened using network pharmacology. These common targets were primarily involved in the TNF signaling pathway, cancer pathways, hepatitis B, drug responses, and negative regulation of the apoptotic process. Flavonoids were the primary pharmacological substance basis of AVF. The cyclooxygenase 2 (COX2) protein was one of the direct targets of flavonoids in AVF. The enzyme activity assay and BLI-based intermolecular interactions demonstrated that the compounds astragalin, isoquercitrin, and hyperoside exhibited stronger inhibition of enzyme activity and a higher affinity with COX2 compared to epigallocatechin, quercetin, and catechin.

CONCLUSIONS

COX2 was preliminarily identified as a target of flavonoids, and the mechanism of the hepatoprotective effect of AVF might be linked to flavonoids inhibiting the activity of COX2. The findings can establish the foundation for future research on the traditional hepatoprotective effect of AVF on the liver and for clinical studies on liver disorders.

Exploring the effective compounds and potential mechanisms of Shengxian Decoction against coronary heart disease by UPLC-Q-TOF/MS and network pharmacology analysis

As a well-known classical Chinese medicine prescription, Shengxian Decoction (SXD) has been applied for a century to treat cardiovascular diseases, especially coronary heart disease (CHD), but the potentially effective compounds and underlying mechanisms remain unclear. With ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time of flight-mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF/MS) and network pharmacology analysis, the potential effective compounds of SXD and their pharmacological mechanisms against CHD were identified and revealed. 57 effective compounds with favorable pharmacokinetic characteristics and biological activities were screened through UPLC-Q-TOF/MS analysis, database and literature mining, interacting with 96 CHD-related targets to support potential synergistic therapeutic actions. Systematic analysis of the PPI network and microarray data further revealed six core targets, including TNF, IL-1β, IL-6, TP53, VEGFA and PTGS2, which were mainly involved in fluid shear stress and atherosclerosis, lipid and atherosclerosis, PI3K-Akt signaling pathway et al. Moreover, the proposed contribution indexes of effective compounds indicated these compounds, including isoferulic acid, quercetin, calycosin, ferulic acid, kaempferol, calycosin 7-O-glycoside, formononetin, astragaloside IV and saikosaponin D, as the core compounds of SXD. The molecular docking results confirmed that those core compound-target pairs exhibited strong binding energy. Furthermore, we validated that SXD significantly alleviated myocardial tissue injury in CHD rats and reversed H/R-induced decreases in H9c2 cell viability by attenuating the production of TNF, IL-6 and IL-1β, and reducing cardiomyocyte apoptosis via down-regulating the TP53, caspase3 and cytochrome C mRNA expression levels as well as caspase3, caspase9 and cytochrome C protein expression levels according to RT-qPCR and Western blot results. Our findings explained the pharmacological mechanisms underlying the effectiveness of SXD in the treatment of CHD, and laid a foundation for future basic and clinical research of SXD.

Anti-Tumor Activity and Mechanism of Silibinin Based on Network Pharmacology and Experimental Verification

Silibinin is a flavonoid compound extracted from the seeds of Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn. It has the functions of liver protection, blood-lipid reduction and anti-tumor effects. However, the potential molecular mechanism of silibinin against tumors is still unknown. This study aimed to assess the anti-tumor effects of silibinin in adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC2) cells and Balb/c nude mice, and explore its potential mechanism based on network pharmacology prediction and experimental verification. A total of 347 targets interacting with silibinin were collected, and 75 targets related to the tumor growth process for silibinin were filtrated. Based on the PPI analysis, CASP3, SRC, ESR1, JAK2, PRKACA, HSPA8 and CAT showed stronger interactions with other factors and may be the key targets of silibinin for treating tumors. The predicted target proteins according to network pharmacology were verified using Western blot analysis in ACC2 cells and Balb/c nude mice. In the pharmacological experiment, silibinin was revealed to significantly inhibit viability, proliferation, migration and induce the apoptosis of ACC2 cells in vitro, as well as inhibit the growth and development of tumor tissue in vivo. Western blot analysis showed that silibinin affected the expression of proteins associated with cell proliferation, migration and apoptosis, such as MMP3, JNK, PPARα and JAK. The possible molecular mechanism involved in cancer pathways, PI3K-Akt signaling pathway and viral carcinogenesis pathway via the inhibition of CASP3, MMP3, SRC, MAPK10 and CDK6 and the activation of PPARα and JAK. Overall, our results provided insight into the pharmacological mechanisms of silibinin in the treatment of tumors. These results offer a support for the anti-tumor uses of silibinin.

Therapeutic effect of notoginseng saponins before and after fermentation on blood deficiency rats

Notoginseng saponins (NS) are the active ingredients in Panax notoginseng (Burk.) F.H. Chen (PN). NS can be transformed depending on how the extract is processed. Fermentation has been shown to produce secondary ginsenosides with increased bioavailability. However, the therapeutic effect of fermented NS (FNS) requires further study. The present study compared the compositions and activities of FNS and NS in blood deficiency rats, which resembles the symptoms of anemia in modern medicine, induced by acetylphenylhydrazine and cyclophosphamide. A total of 32 rats were randomly divided into control, model, FNS and NS groups. A blood deficiency model was established and then treatment was orally administered for 21 days. The results of component analysis indicated that some saponins transformed during the fermentation process resulting in a decrease of notoginsenoside R1, and ginsenosides Rg1, Rb1 and Re, and an increase in ginsenosides Rd, Rh2, compound K, protopanaxadiol and protopanaxatriol. The animal results showed that both FNS and NS increased the number of white blood cells (WBCs), red blood cells, hemoglobin, platelets and reticulocytes, and the levels of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), erythropoietin (EPO) and thrombopoietin (TPO), decreased the G0/G1 phase and increased G2/M phase, and decreased the apoptosis rate of bone marrow (BM) cells, which suggested a contribution to the recovery of hematopoietic function of the BM cells. FNS and NS increased the protein expression levels of the cytokines IL-4, IL-10, IL-12, IL-13, TGF-β, IL-6, IFN-γ and TNF-α, and the mRNA expression levels of transcription factors GATA binding protein 3 and T-box expressed in T cell (T-bet). FNS and NS treatment also increased the number of CD4+ T cells, and decreased the enlargement of the rat spleen and thymus atrophy, which indicated a protective effect on the organs of the immune system. The results of the present study demonstrated that compared with NS, FNS showed an improved ability to increase the levels of WBCs, lymphocytes, GM-CSF, EPO, TPO, aspartate aminotransferase, IL-10, IL-12, IL-13 and TNF-α, and the mRNA expression levels of T-bet, and decrease alanine aminotransferase levels. The differences seen for FNS treatment could arise from their improved bioavailability compared with NS, due to the larger proportion of hydrophobic ginsenosides produced during fermentation.

Exploring the molecular mechanism of berberine for treating diabetic nephropathy based on network pharmacology

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a prevalent complication of diabetes mellitus characterized by hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, albuminuria and edema. Increasing evidence indicated that berberine (BBR) could alleviate the occurrence and development of DN. However, the molecular mechanism underlying the beneficial effects of BBR in the treatment of DN remains unclear.

METHODS

The online public databases were chosen to screen the relevant targets of BBR and DN and the screened overlapped targets were analyzed by GO enrichment analysis, KEGG enrichment analysis and protein-protein interaction network analysis. The interaction between BBR and the key proteinwas verified by molecular docking and cellularthermalshiftassay. Additionally, the expression of key proteins and related indicators of DN were verified by immunofluorescence and western blot in vitro and in vivo.

RESULTS

We successfully identified 92 overlapped targets of BBR and DN based on network pharmacology. Notably, VEGFR2 was identified to be the main target of BBR. Meanwhile, we found that BBR exhibited a high binding affinity to VEGFR2 protein, as confirmed by molecular docking and CETSA. This binding led to interfering with the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway. In addition, we found that BBR could inhibit the abnormal proliferation of mesangial cells and reduce the expression of downstream pathway protein in vitro and in vivo. Finally, BBR was found to effectively lower the level of blood glucose and improve kidney function in mice, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic agent for the treatment of DN.

CONCLUSION

Berberine interfered the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway via targeting VEGFR2 protein, further led to the inhibition of abnormal proliferation of mesangial cells and ultimately resulted in improved renal function.

Forecasting of potential anti-inflammatory targets of some immunomodulatory plants and their constituents using in vitro, molecular docking and network pharmacology-based analysis

Most synthetic immunomodulatory medications are extremely expensive, have many disadvantages and suffer from a lot of side effects. So that, introducing immunomodulatory reagents from natural sources will have great impact on drug discovery. Therefore, this study aimed to comprehend the mechanism of the immunomodulatory activity of some natural plants via network pharmacology together with molecular docking and in vitro testing. Apigenin, luteolin, diallyl trisulfide, silibinin and allicin had the highest percentage of C-T interactions while, AKT1, CASP3, PTGS2, NOS3, TP53 and MMP9 were found to be the most enriched genes. Moreover, the most enriched pathways were pathways in cancer, fluid shear stress and atherosclerosis, relaxin signaling pathway, IL-17 signaling pathway and FoxO signaling pathway. Additionally, Curcuma longa, Allium sativum, Oleu europea, Salvia officinalis, Glycyrrhiza glabra and Silybum marianum had the highest number of P-C-T-P interactions. Furthermore, molecular docking analysis of the top hit compounds against the most enriched genes revealed that silibinin had the most stabilized interactions with AKT1, CASP3 and TP53, whereas luteolin and apigenin exhibited the most stabilized interactions with AKT1, PTGS2 and TP53. In vitro anti-inflammatory and cytotoxicity testing of the highest scoring plants exhibited equivalent outcomes to those of piroxicam.

Metabolomic mechanism and pharmacodynamic material basis of Buxue Yimu pills in the treatment of anaemia in women of reproductive age

Objective: To explore the pharmacological basis and mechanism of Buxue Yimu pills (BYP) in the treatment of anaemia in women from the perspective of metabolomics and network analysis. Materials and Methods: Forty-six women of reproductive age with haemoglobin 70-110 g/L were recruited. Blood samples were collected before and after 4 weeks of oral BYP treatment to assess the changes in haemoglobin, coagulation function, and iron metabolism indices. An integrated analysis of metabolomics (liquid chromatography mass spectrometry) and network analysis was performed to identify the potential pharmacodynamic mechanisms of BYP. Results: After BYP treatment, the haemoglobin level of patients significantly increased from 93.67 ± 9.77 g/L to 109.28 ± 12.62 g/L (p < 0.01), while no significant changes were found in iron metabolism and coagulation-related indicators. A total of 22 differential metabolites were identified after metabolomics analysis, which were mainly related to the inhibition of inflammation and oxidative stress. Integrating pharmacodynamics and metabolomics, a network of drug-active components-targets-metabolic pathways-metabolomics was established. Acetylcholinesterase, phospholipase A2 group IIA, and phospholipase A2 group IVA may be the most promising therapeutic targets. Conclusion: BYP can inhibit inflammation and oxidative stress as well as promote haematopoiesis, potentially improving anaemia.

Integration of transdermal chemistry and network pharmacology to decipher the mechanism of ShexiangZhuifeng analgesic plaster to treat rheumatoid arthritis

BACKGROUND

Transdermal patches are an effective form of treatment for rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and they have a number of benefits, including patient compliance, accessibility, and low systemic toxicity. ShexiangZhuifeng Analgesic Plaster (SZAP), a patch made up of many traditional medicines, has been successfully utilized in numerous clinical trials to treat RA. However, information about anti-RA processes and transdermal active components is still emerging.

PURPOSE

Our objectives were to identify the transdermal active components of SZAP and investigate its anti-RA mechanisms, primarily focused on joint inflammation.

METHODS

The collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) rats were created first, and then the arthritis score, Paw thickness, and morphology feature of joint synovial were assessed after 7 days of therapy with SZAP. Moreover, the Franz diffusion cell and UPLC-MS technologies were combined to identify and measure the transdermal active ingredients of SZAP. Furthermore, network pharmacology was utilized to anticipate the putative the mechanism of SZAP for treating RA. Finally, the results of network pharmacology were validated using LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells and CIA rats.

RESULTS

SZAP significantly reduced paw thickness, arthritic score and pathological characteristics of joint synovitis in (CIA) rats. Additionally, 12 transdermal active components of SZAP were identified, and network pharmacology prediction results suggested that SZAP may alleviate joint synovial inflammation by blocking the Akt/mTOR/HIF-1 pathway. Our investigations' findings demonstrated that SZAP dramatically reduced the concentrations of excess cytokines (IL6, VEGF, and TNF-α), as well as the protein overexpression of the AKT/mTOR/HIF- pathway (HIF-1, p-AKT, and p-mTOR), whereas its anti-inflammation effect was reversed once AKT or mTOR was activated.

CONCLUSION

By blocking the AKT/mTOR/HIF-1 pathway, SZAP can lessen the release of inflammatory mediators, which reduces joint synovial inflammation associated with RA. The pharmacological evaluation of TCM transdermal drug delivery formulations like SZAP may be amenable to the integration of transdermal chemistry and network pharmacology approaches.

Elucidation of the mechanism of action of Runyan Mixture in the treatment of pharyngitis using a network pharmacological approach

This study aimed to elucidate the mechanism of action of Runyan Mixture in treating pharyngitis using a network pharmacological approach. The active components of the Runyan Mixture were obtained from the traditional chinese medicine systems pharmacology database and evaluated using Lipinski's rules. The SwissTargetPrediction database was used to predict the action targets of the Runyan Mixture, and a protein-protein interaction network was constructed using the STRING database. Moreover, the anti-inflammatory effect of Runyan Mixture was validated in vitro using the lipopolysaccharide induced inflammation in macrophages. The Runyan Mixture was the liquid preparation from 8 traditional Chinese medicine. A total of 89 types of active components, 53 core targets, and 98 signaling pathways (P < .001) were identified for the Runyan Mixture. The main action targets were EGFR, MAPK1, AKT1, PIK3CA, NFKB1, SRC, TNF, MAPK8, MET, and PTGS2. Among the identified signaling pathways, 20 were associated with microbial infection and 24 were related to the immune-inflammatory response. Experimental results in vitro showed that Runyan Mixture could significantly inhibit the expression of interleukin-1, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α (P < .05) in macrophages by lipopolysaccharide stimulation. Based on the results of the protein-protein interaction network analysis and the anti-inflammatory effect in vitro, the efficiency of the Runyan Mixture in pharyngitis treatment could be attributed to the inhibition of the inflammatory response.

Ligusticum chuanxiong promotes the angiogenesis of preovulatory follicles (F1-F3) in late-phase laying hens

Ligusticum chuanxiong (CX) is a traditional Chinese medicine that is widely planted throughout the world. CX is one of the most important and commonly used drugs to enhance blood circulation. The preovulatory follicles in laying hens have a large number of blood arteries and meridians that feed the follicles' growth and maturation with nutrients, hormones, and cytokines. With the extension of laying time, preovulatory follicles angiogenesis decreased gradually. In this study, we studied the mechanism of CX on preovulatory follicles angiogenesis in late-phase laying hens. The results show that CX extract can increase the angiogenesis of preovulatory follicles (F1-F3) of late-phase laying hens. CX extract can promote vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) phosphorylation in preovulatory follicles theca layers, promote the proliferation, invasion and migration through PI3K/AKT and RAS/ERK signaling pathways in primary follicle microvascular endothelial-like cells (FMECs). In addition, CX extract can up-regulate the expression of hypoxia inducible factor α (HIF1α) in granulosa cells (GCs) and granulosa layers through PI3K/AKT and RAS/ERK signaling pathways, thereby promoting the secretion of vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA). In conclusion, the current study confirmed the promoting effect of CX extract on the preovulatory follicles angiogenesis, which sets the stage for the design of functional animal feed for late-phase laying hens.

Hematopoietic Effects of Angelica gigas Nakai Extract on Cyclophosphamide-Induced Myelosuppression

Myelosuppression is a major adverse effect of chemotherapy. With the increasing number of cancer patients worldwide, there is a growing interest in therapeutic approaches that reduce the adverse effects of chemotherapy. Angelica gigas Nakai (AGN) roots have been widely used in oriental medicine to treat blood-related diseases, including cancer. However, the effects of AGN on myelosuppression have not been studied. Here, we investigated the effects of AGN ethanol extract (AGNEX) on cyclophosphamide-induced myelosuppression. AGNEX treatment significantly decreased white blood cell levels while increasing red blood cell and platelet levels in the peripheral blood. It inhibited thymus and spleen atrophy. It also enhanced serum levels of interleukin (IL)-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α. qRT-PCR results showed that AGNEX decreased the expression of IL-1b and stem cell factor (SCF) in the bone marrow (BM) while increasing the mRNA expression of IL-3 and IL-6 in the spleen. Although AGNEX did not significantly decrease apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in the BM and splenocytes, AGNEX plays a positive role in cyclophosphamide-induced myelosuppression. AGNEX administration increased BM cells in the femur while decreasing apoptotic BM cells. These findings suggest that AGNEX could be used to treat myelosuppression and as a combination therapy in cancer patients.

Integrated plasma pharmacochemistry and network pharmacology to explore the mechanism of Gerberae Piloselloidis Herba in treatment of allergic asthma

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Gerberae Piloselloidis Herba (GPH), a commonly used traditional medicine in China, is derived from Gerbera piloselloides (Linn.) Cass. It is featured by its special bioactivities as antitussive, expectorant, anti-asthma, anti-bacterial, anti-tumor, uterine analgesia, and immunity-enhancing. With a long history of medication in ethnic minority areas in China, it is often used as an effective treatment for cough and sore throat as well as allergic asthma. Although our previous investigation also has discovered GPH performed effective treatment on allergic asthma, its underlying mechanism remains unclear.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This research aims to reveal the pharmacological mechanism of GPH in the treatment for allergic asthma through combination of plasma pharmacology and network pharmacology.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Firstly, the components of GPH in blood samples were identified using UHPLC- Q-Orbitrap HRMS. An interaction network of "compound-target-disease" was constructed based on the compounds confirmed in blood and on their corresponding targets of allergic asthma acquired from disease gene databases, predicting the possible biological targets and potential signal pathways of GPH with the network pharmacology analysis. Then, a molecular docking between the blood ingredients and the core targets was carried out using the Autodock Vina software. Subsequently, after establishing a mouse model with allergic asthma induced by ovalbumin (OVA), the effect of GPH on allergic asthma was evaluated by analyzing a series of indicators including behavior, lung pathological changes, inflammatory factors in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). Finally, the key pathway and targets predicted by network pharmacology and molecular docking were further verified using Western blot analysis.

RESULTS

Eleven chemical constituents (such as arbutin, neochlorogenic acid, chlorogenic acid, etc.) were identified through the analysis of plasma samples, on which basis a total of 142 genes intersecting GPH and allergic asthma were collected by network pharmacology. After performing enrichment analysis of these genes in gene ontology (GO) and kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG), it was found that arbutin-related targets mainly focused on phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt) signal pathway, while luteolin and marmesin -related targets tended to locate at Interleukin-17 (IL-17) signal pathway. Meanwhile, the findings of molecular docking suggested that such components as arbutin, luteolin and marmesin entering into blood had good binding with the core targets related to PI3K/Akt and IL-17 pathways. In addition, GPH improved the OVA-induced asthma symptoms, the alveolar septa thickening and the infiltration of inflammatory cell around bronchi and bronchioles as well as reduced the levels of IgE, IL-8 and TNF-α in serum or BALF. Furthermore, GPH could inhibit the phosphorylation level of Akt and the expression of PI3K, an efficacy supported by the findings by way of Western blot which suggests that GPH in the treatment of allergic asthma was linked to PI3K/Akt signal pathway.

CONCLUSION

In this study, a comprehensive strategy to combine the UPLC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS with network pharmacology was employed to clarify the mechanism of GPH against allergic asthma, a finding where GPH may inhibit PI3K/Akt signal pathway to protect mice from OVA-induced allergic asthma. This study provides a deeper understanding of the pharmacological mechanism of GPH in treatment of asthma, offering a scientific reference for further research and clinical application of GPH in terms of allergic asthma.

A Novel multi-fruit acids formula design on molecular basis for skin brightening via a system biology approach

BACKGROUND

Fruit acids have long been recognized as highly effective actives with world-wide popularity, covering skin peeling, anti-acne, anti-wrinkle applications, and skin depigmentation.

AIMS

There are complicated interconnections between the fruit acid formula and skin pigmentation behaviors. However, the lack of systematic researches on multi-ingredient formula restricted our understanding on its mechanism. Therefore, it is of great necessity to study the interactions and cascades among components, potential gene targets, signaling pathways, and biological processes via a system biology approach.

METHODS

We used system biology, molecular fingerprint, and structural biology to calculate and collect target information of the functional formula. Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis was further applied to study the biological processes and pathways of the formula, and a multi-level network model of "component - molecular target - signaling pathway - skin disease" was established. Besides, the zebrafish model was utilized to verify the formula.

RESULTS

We obtained 69 hub targets by constructing a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network based on the intersection between multi-fruit acids formula (mandelic acid, lactobionic acid, niacinamide, and hydroxytyrosol) and skin indications targets (whitening-sebum balance). In vitro zebrafish models, including pigmentation, antioxidant, and radiation protection models, showed that the current formula significantly alleviated pigmentation intensity and intracellular free radical content, thus proving the efficacy of skin brightening and UV irradiation protection.

CONCLUSIONS

This research uncovered the underlying mechanism of multi-fruit acids formula and predicted its function in skin brightening and UV irradiation prevention.

Methodology of network pharmacology for research on Chinese herbal medicine against COVID-19: A review

Traditional Chinese medicine, as a complementary and alternative medicine, has been practiced for thousands of years in China and possesses remarkable clinical efficacy. Thus, systematic analysis and examination of the mechanistic links between Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) and the complex human body can benefit contemporary understandings by carrying out qualitative and quantitative analysis. With increasing attention, the approach of network pharmacology has begun to unveil the mystery of CHM by constructing the heterogeneous network relationship of "herb-compound-target-pathway," which corresponds to the holistic mechanisms of CHM. By integrating computational techniques into network pharmacology, the efficiency and accuracy of active compound screening and target fishing have been improved at an unprecedented pace. This review dissects the core innovations to the network pharmacology approach that were developed in the years since 2015 and highlights how this tool has been applied to understanding the coronavirus disease 2019 and refining the clinical use of CHM to combat it.

The Latest Research Advances of Danggui Buxue Tang as an Effective Prescription for Various Diseases: A Comprehensive Review

Danggui Buxue Tang (DBT) is composed of Astragali Radix and Angelicae Sinensis Radix in a weight ratio of 5:1. The recipe of the decoction is simple, and DBT has been widely used in the treatment of blood deficiency syndrome for more than 800 years in China. Studies on its chemical constituents show that saponins, flavonoids, volatile oils, organic acids, and polysaccharides are the main components of DBT. Many techniques such as third-generation sequencing, PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis, and HPLC-MS have been used for the quality control of DBT. DBT has a wide range of biological activities, including blood enhancement, antagonizing diabetic nephropathy, cardiovascular protection, immunity stimulation, estrogen-like effect, and antifibrosis, among others. In this paper, we summarize the recent research advances of DBT in terms of its components, pharmacological activities, and possible mechanisms of action as well as provide suggestions for further research.

Exploring Active Ingredients, Beneficial Effects, and Potential Mechanism of Allium tenuissimum L. Flower for Treating T2DM Mice Based on Network Pharmacology and Gut Microbiota

Forty compounds were isolated and characterized from A. tenuissimum flower. Among them, twelve flavonoids showed higher α−glucosidase inhibition activities in vitro than acarbose, especially kaempferol. The molecular docking results showed that the binding of kaempferol to α−glucosidase (GAA) could reduce the hydrolysis of substrates by GAA and reduce the glucose produced by hydrolysis, thus exhibiting α−glucosidase inhibition activities. The in vivo experiment results showed that flavonoids−rich A. tenuissimum flower could decrease blood glucose and reduce lipid accumulation. The protein expression levels of RAC−alpha serine/threonine−protein kinase (AKT1), peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma (PPARG), and prostaglandin G/H synthase 2 (PTGS2) in liver tissue were increased. In addition, the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes (F/B) ratio was increased, the level of gut probiotics Bifidobacterium was increased, and the levels of Enterobacteriaceae and Staphylococcus were decreased. The carbohydrate metabolism, lipid metabolism, and other pathways related to type 2 diabetes mellitus were activated. This study indicating flavonoids−rich A. tenuissimum flower could improve glycolipid metabolic disorders and inflammation in diabetic mice by modulating the protein expression and gut microbiota.

Revealing the mechanisms of Weishi Huogu I capsules used for treating osteonecrosis of the femoral head based on systems pharmacology with one mechanism validated with in vitro experiments

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Weishi Huogu I (WH I) capsules, developed through traditional Chinese medicine, have been used to treat clinical osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) for decades. However, the mechanisms have not been systematically studied.

AIM OF THE STUDY

In this study, the mechanisms of WH I capsules used in treating ONFH were examined through a systems pharmacology strategy, and one mechanism was validated with in vitro experiments.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

WH I capsules compounds were identified by screening databases; then, a database of the potential active compounds was constructed after absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion (ADME) evaluation. The compounds were identified through a systematic approach in which the probability of an interaction of every candidate compound with each corresponding target in the DrugBank database was calculated. Gene Ontology (GO) and pathway enrichment analyses of the targets was performed with the Metascape and KEGG DISEASE databases. Then, a compound-target network (C-T) and target-pathway network (T-P) of WH I capsule components were constructed, and network characteristics and related information were used for systematically identifying WH I capsule multicomponent-target interactions. Furthermore, the effects of WH I capsule compounds identified through the systematic pharmacology analysis of the osteogenic transformation of human umbilical mesenchymal stem cells (HUMSCs) were validated in vitro.

RESULTS

In total, 152 potentially important compounds and 176 associated targets were identified. Twenty-two crucial GO biological process (BP) or pathways were related to ONFH, mainly in regulatory modules regulating blood circulation, modulating growth, and affecting pathological processes closely related to ONFH. Furthermore, the GO enrichment analysis showed that corydine, isorhamnetin, and bicuculline were enriched in "RUNX2 regulates osteoblast differentiation", significantly increased alkaline phosphatase activity and calcium deposition and upregulated runt-related transcription factor 2 mRNA and protein expression and osteocalcin mRNA expression in HUMSCs, suggesting that these compounds promoted the mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) osteogenic transformation.

CONCLUSIONS

The study showed that the pharmacological mechanisms of WH I capsule attenuation of ONFH mainly involve three therapeutic modules: blood circulation, modulating growth, and regulating pathological processes. The crosstalk between GOBPs/pathways may constitute the basis of the synergistic effects of the compounds in WH I capsules in attenuating ONFH. One of the pharmacological mechanisms in the WH I capsule effect on ONFH involves enhancement of the osteogenic transformation of MSCs, as validated in experiments performed in vitro; however, more mechanisms should be validated in further studies.

Metabolic profiling of Lantana camara L. using UPLC-MS/MS and revealing its inflammation-related targets using network pharmacology-based and molecular docking analyses

Lantana camara L. is widely used in folk medicine for alleviation of inflammatory disorders, but studies that proved this folk use and that revealed the molecular mechanism of action in inflammation mitigation are not enough. Therefore, this study aimed to identify L. camara phytoconstituents using UPLC-MS/MS and explain their multi-level mechanism of action in inflammation alleviation using network pharmacology analysis together with molecular docking and in vitro testing. Fifty-seven phytoconstituents were identified in L. camara extract, from which the top hit compounds related to inflammation were ferulic acid, catechin gallate, myricetin and iso-ferulic acid. Whereas the most enriched inflammation related genes were PRKCA, RELA, IL2, MAPK 14 and FOS. Furthermore, the most enriched inflammation-related pathways were PI3K-Akt and MAPK signaling pathways. Molecular docking revealed that catechin gallate possessed the lowest binding energy against PRKCA, RELA and IL2, while myricetin had the most stabilized interaction against MAPK14 and FOS. In vitro cytotoxicity and anti-inflammatory testing indicated that L. camara extract is safer than piroxicam and has a strong anti-inflammatory activity comparable to it. This study is a first step in proving the folk uses of L. camara in palliating inflammatory ailments and institutes the groundwork for future clinical studies.

Bibliometric Analysis of Network Pharmacology in Traditional Chinese Medicine

Aim

We evaluated the developmental process, research status, and existing challenges of network pharmacology. Moreover, we elucidated the corresponding solutions to improve and develop network pharmacology.

Methods

Research data for the current study were retrieved from the Web of Science. The developmental process of network pharmacology was analyzed using HisCite, whereas cooccurrence analysis of countries, institutions, keywords, and references in literature was conducted using CiteSpace.

Results

In literature, there was a trend of annual increase of studies on network pharmacology and China was found to be the country with the most published literature on network pharmacology. The main publishing research institutions were universities of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). The keywords with more research frequency were TCM, mechanisms, molecular docking, and quercetin, among others.

Conclusion

Currently, studies on network pharmacology are mainly associated with the exploration of action mechanisms of TCM. The main active ingredient in many Chinese medicines is quercetin. This ingredient may lead to deviation of research results, inability to truly analyze active ingredients, and even mislead the research direction of TCM. Such deviation may be because the database fails to reflect the content and composition changes of Chinese medicinal components. The database does not account for interactions among components, targets, and diseases, and it ignores the different pathological states of the disease. Therefore, network pharmacology should be improved from the databases and research methods.

An active ingredient isolated from Ganoderma lucidum promotes burn wound healing via TRPV1/SMAD signaling

The mushroom Ganoderma lucidum is a traditional Chinese medicine and G. lucidum spore oil (GLSO) is the lipid fraction isolated from Ganoderma spores. We examined the effect of GLSO on burn wound healing in mice. Following wounding, GLSO was applied on the wounds twice daily. Repair analysis was performed by Sirius-Red-staining at different time points. Cell proliferation and migration assays were performed to verify the effect of GLSO on growth. Network pharmacology analysis to identify possible targets was also carried out, followed by Western blotting, nuclear translocation, cell proliferation, and immunofluorescence assays for in-depth investigation of the mechanism. Our study showed that GLSO significantly promoted cell proliferation, and network pharmacology analysis suggested that GLSO might act through transient receptor potential vanilloid receptor 1 (TRPV1)/SMAD signaling. Furthermore, GLSO elevated SMAD2/3 expression in skin burn and promoted its nuclear translocation, and TRPV1 expression was also increased upon exposure to GLSO. Cell proliferation and immunofluorescence assays with TRPV1 inhibitor showed that GLSO accelerated skin burn wound healing through TRPV1 and SMADs signaling, which provides a foundation for clinical application of GLSO in the healing of deep skin burns.

Anti-osteoporosis effects and regulatory mechanism of Lindera aggregata based on network pharmacology and experimental validation

Osteoporosis (OP) is characterized by the flaccidity of bones or bone bi-disease caused by kidney deficiency. Lindera aggregate has been used to strengthen kidney function in China for thousands of years. It has been approved by Chinese Pharmacopoeia that the root of Lindera aggregata (RLA) can replenish and tonify the kidney, which is thought to be an effective way to alleviate OP. In this study, a network pharmacology approach was applied to explore the active components and potential mechanisms of RLA in osteoporosis treatment. Then, the ethanolic extract of the root of L. aggregata (EERL) was prepared and these predicted results were validated by prednisone-induced zebrafish embryos model. Moreover, the candidate compounds were identified by UPLC-ESI-MS/MS. The anti-OP results showed that EERL could significantly reverse the bone loss of zebrafish induced by prednisone. The mRNA expressions results showed that EERL decreased osteoclast bone resorption by regulating the RANK/RANKL/OPG system. Also, it increased bone formation by regulating the gene expressions of spp1, mmp2, mmp9, runx2b, alp, and entpd5a. Our results demonstrated the reliability of the network pharmacology method, and also revealed the anti-OP effect and potential mechanism of RLA.

Mechanisms of Danggui Buxue Tang on Hematopoiesis via Multiple Targets and Multiple Components: Metabonomics Combined with Database Mining Technology

This study aimed to explore the mechanism of action of Danggui Buxue Tang (DBT) with its multiple components and targets in the synergistic regulation of hematopoiesis. Mouse models of hematopoiesis were established using antibiotics. Metabolomics was used to detect body metabolites and enriched pathways. The active ingredients, targets, and pathways of DBT were analyzed using system pharmacology. The results of metabolomics and system pharmacology were integrated to identify the key pathways and targets. A total of 515 metabolites were identified using metabolomics. After the action of antibiotics, 49 metabolites were markedly changed: 23 were increased, 26 were decreased, and 11 were significantly reversed after DBT administration. Pathway enrichment analysis showed that these 11 metabolites were related to bile secretion, cofactor biosynthesis, and fatty acid biosynthesis. The results of the pharmacological analysis showed that 616 targets were related to DBT-induced anemia, which were mainly enriched in biological processes, such as bile secretion, biosynthesis of cofactors, and cholesterol metabolism. Combined with the results of metabolomics and system pharmacology, we found that bile acid metabolism and biotin synthesis were the key pathways for DBT. Forty-two targets of DBT were related to these two metabolic pathways. PPI analysis revealed that the top 10 targets were CYP3A4, ABCG2, and UGT1A8. Twenty-one components interacted with these 10 targets. In one case, a target corresponds to multiple components, and a component corresponds to multiple targets. DBT acts on multiple targets of ABCG2, UGT1A8, and CYP3A4 through multiple components, affecting the biosynthesis of cofactors and bile secretion pathways to regulate hematopoiesis.

Explore the Mechanism of Astragalus mongholicus Bunge against Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Based on Network Pharmacology and Experimental Verification

Objective

Astragalus mongholicus Bunge [Fabaceae] (AMB), a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), has been widely used to treat liver diseases in the clinic. However, the efficacy and mechanism of AMB in the treatment of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) remain unclear. The purpose of this study was to systematically investigate the active components and mechanisms of AMB against NAFLD based on network pharmacology, molecular docking, and experimental verification.

Methods

First, the bioactive components and relevant targets of AMB were screened from the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systematic Pharmacology (TCMSP) database, and NAFLD-related targets were obtained from the GeneCards database. Then, the AMB-NAFLD protein target interaction network was built by the STRING database. GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses were performed using the DAVID database. The component targets were visualized using Cytoscape software. Finally, molecular docking and experiments were used to verify the results of network pharmacological prediction.

Results

Network pharmacology predicted that quercetin may be the main active component in AMB, and the TNF and MAPK signaling pathways may be the key targets of AMB against NAFLD. Molecular docking validation results demonstrated that quercetin, as the main active component of AMB, had the highest binding affinity with TNF. Furthermore, quercetin played a distinct role in alleviating NAFLD through in vitro experiments. Quercetin upregulated the phosphorylation levels of AMPK and inhibited the expression of p-MAPK and TNF-α. In addition, we further discovered that quercetin could increase ACC phosphorylation and CPT1α expression in PA-induced HepG2 cells.

Conclusions

Our results indicated that quercetin, as the main active component in AMB, exerts an anti-NAFLD effect by regulating the AMPK/MAPK/TNF-α and AMPK/ACC/CPT1α signaling pathways to inhibit inflammation and alleviate lipid accumulation.

Hawthorn extract inhibited the PI3k/Akt pathway to prolong the lifespan of Drosophila melanogaster

HE is a natural extract with strong antioxidant capacity. Drosophila melanogaster was used to explore HE could delay aging in this study. We detected that 3 mg/ml HE could increase stress tolerance (heat, cold, starvation, oxidative stress), reduce intestinal dysfunction, and prolong the lifespan of D. melanogaster. Network pharmacology analysis showed HE could act through the PI3K-Akt pathway. Meanwhile, HE intervention inhibited the gene expression of InR, PI3K, and Akt-1, and further increased the gene expression of Atg1, Atg5, Atg8a, and Atg8b. Furthermore, HE inhibited the unnatural propagation of ISCs and increased the number of lysosomes. Supplement with HE may be an effective intervention for aging D. melanogaster. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: In recent years, diseases that come with aging have seriously affected people's healthy life. Hawthorn is a kind of nutrient-rich substance that is rich in flavonoids and thus has many potential biological and pharmacological functions. Our results showed that HE has good antioxidant properties and can maintain intestinal homeostasis, which provides a good theoretical basis for the development and research using HE as an effective natural antioxidant for the elderly.

Integrated Network Pharmacology and Metabolomics Analysis to Reveal the Potential Mechanism of Siwu Paste on Aplastic Anemia Induced by Chemotherapy Drugs

Purpose

This study aimed to reveal the multicomponent synergy mechanisms of SWP based on network pharmacology and metabolomics for exploring the relationships of active ingredients, biological targets, and crucial metabolic pathways.

Materials

Network pharmacology, including TRRUST, GO, and KEGG, enrichment was used to discover the active ingredients and potential regulation mechanisms of SWP. LC-MS and multivariate data analysis method were further applied to analyze serum metabolomics profiling for discovering the potential metabolic mechanisms of SWP on AA induced by Cyclophosphamide (CTX) and 1-Acetyl-2-phenylhydrazine (APH).

Results

A total of 27 important bioactive ingredients meeting the ADME (absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion) screening criteria from SWP were selected. Interaction networks were constructed and validated based on the 10 associated ingredients with the relevant targets. A total of 125 biomarkers were found by Metabolomics approach, which associated with the development of AA, mainly involved in amino acid metabolism and lipid metabolism. While SWP can reverse the above 12 metabolites changed by AA. Network analysis revealed the synergistic effects of SWP through the 43 crucial pathways, including Sphingolipid signaling pathway, Sphingolipid metabolism, Arginine and proline metabolism, VEGF signaling pathway, Estrogen signaling pathway.

Conclusion

The study suggested that SWP is a useful alternative for the treatment of AA induced by CTX + APH. Its potential mechanisms are to improve hematopoietic microenvironment and promote bone marrow hematopoiesis therapies.

Disclosing targets and pharmacological mechanisms of total bioflavonoids extracted from Selaginella doederleinii against non-small cell lung cancer by combination of network pharmacology and proteomics

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Previously, the total bioflavonoids extract from Selaginella doederleinii (SDTBE) presented favorable in vitro and in vivo activities against non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), hinting at its medicinal potential. However, up to nowadays, targets and integrative action mechanisms of SDTBE are still not very clear, which presents an obstacle to the development of herbal medicine.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The present study aimed to disclose the potential targets and integrative action mechanism of SDTBE against NSCLC.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A system pharmacology-based strategy including target fishing, network pharmacology analysis and molecular docking were applied to predict the potential targets and pathways for the seven main active ingredients in SDTBE. A proteomics study was subsequently performed for validating the affected pathways and possible targets. Western blot assay, mouse xenograft tumor model and immunofluorescence assays were used to further confirm the key targets and integrative action mechanisms of SDTBE against NSCLC.

RESULTS

By system pharmacology, it was inferred that SDTBE could mainly act on mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and PI3K-AKT signaling pathways by targeting epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), protein kinase B (AKT) and mitogen-activated or extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (MEK), which was validated by proteomics results, and further confirmed in vitro and in vivo by Western blot and immunofluorescence assays.

CONCLUSION

SDTBE targeting multi-targets including EGFR, AKT and MEK could exert its anti-NSCLC effect mainly via MAPK and PI3K-AKT signaling pathways.

Exploration of hanshi zufei prescription for treatment of COVID-19 based on network pharmacology

Objective

Network pharmacology combines drug and disease targets with biological information networks based on the integrity and systematicness of the interactions between drugs and disease targets. This study aims to explore the molecular basis of Hanshi Zufei formula for treatment of COVID-19 based on network pharmacology and molecular docking techniques.

Methods

Using TCMSP, the chemical constituents and molecular targets of Atractylodis Rhizoma, Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium, Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex, Pogostemonis Herba, Tsaoko Fructus, Ephedrae Herba, Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix, Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens, and Arecae Semen were investigated. The predicted targets of novel coronavirus were screened using the NCBI and GeneCards databases. To further screen the drug-disease core targets network, the corresponding target proteins were queried using multiple databases (Biogrid, DIP, and HPRD), a protein interaction network graph was constructed, and the network topology was analyzed. The molecular docking studies were also performed between the network’s top 15 compounds and the coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) 3CL hydrolytic enzyme and angiotensin conversion enzyme II (ACE2).

Results

The herb-active ingredient-target network contained nine drugs, 86 compounds, and 49 drug-disease targets. Gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis resulted in 1566 GO items (P < 0.05), among which 1438 were biological process items, 35 were cell composition items, and 93 were molecular function items. Fourteen signal pathways were obtained by enrichment screening of the KEGG pathway database (P < 0.05). The molecular docking results showed that the affinity of the core active compounds with the SARS-CoV-2 3CL hydrolase was better than for the other compounds.

Conclusion

Several core compounds can regulate multiple signaling pathways by binding with 3CL hydrolase and ACE2, which might contribute to the treatment of COVID-19.

The Pharmacological Mechanism of the Effect of Plant Extract Compound Drugs on Cancer Pain Based on Network Pharmacology

Objective

We systematically analyzed the mechanism of plant-derived drugs alleviating cancer pain in our hospital through network pharmacology, so as to provide the possibility of further application of traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of cancer pain.

Methods

We used TCMSP, ETCM, and TCMID databases to mine the active ingredients of plant-derived drugs. We combined OMIM, GeneCards, and DrugBank databases to mine and match the common targets of plant-derived drugs for cancer pain. We used the STRING platform and Cytoscape software to analyze and screen out the core targets. We used GO and KEGG methods to analyze the biological processes, molecular functions, cellular composition, and signaling pathways involved in the reduction of cancer pain by plant-derived drugs.

Results

We found 153 active ingredients from botanical drugs by TCMSP (Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform, TCMSP), ETCM (The Encyclopedia of Traditional Chinese Medicine), and TCMID (Traditional Chinese Medicine Integrated Database) databases, covering 341 protein targets in human body. Combined with OMIM (Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man), GeneCards, and DrugBank databases, we excavated and matched 141 targets of plant-derived drugs and cancerous pain diseases. Through the analysis of the STRING platform and Cytoscape software, 19 core targets including TNF, MAPK1, JUN, and IL-6 were screened out. Go and KEGG enrichment showed that plant-derived drugs alleviated cancer pain processes involving 193 biological processes, 47 molecular functions, 22 cell components, and 118 signaling pathways. By screening genes involved in KEGG signaling pathway, it was found that plant-derived drugs were mainly associated with PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, tumor necrosis factor signaling pathway, MAPK signaling pathway, Toll-like receptor signaling pathway, and HIF-1 signaling pathway in alleviating cancer pain.

Conclusion

These results indicate that botanical drugs can positively affect the expression of inflammatory factors and apoptotic factors in the process of treatment and relief of cancer pain, which is expected to have a potential therapeutic effect on the relief of cancer pain.

Utilizing Bioinformatics Technology to Explore the Potential Mechanism of Danggui Buxue Decoction against NSCLC

While lung cancer poses a serious threat to human health, non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common type of lung cancer. Danggui Buxue Decoction (DBD) is a classical traditional antitumor medicine commonly used in China. However, the potential mechanism of DBD against NSCLC has not yet been expounded. Therefore, this study clarified the potential molecular mechanism and key targets of DBD in NSCLC treatment through several technological advances, such as network pharmacology, molecular docking, and bioinformatics. Firstly, the relative active ingredients and key DBD targets were analyzed, and subsequently, a drug-ingredient-target-disease network diagram was constructed for NSCLC treatment with DBD, resulting in the identification of five main active ingredients and ten core targets according to the enrichment degree. The enrichment analysis revealed that DBD can achieve the purpose of treating NSCLC through the AGE-RAGE signaling pathway in diabetic complications. Secondly, the molecular docking approach predicted that quercetin and hederagenin have the best working mechanisms with PDE3A and PTGS1, while the survival analysis results depicted that high PDE3A gene expression has a relatively poor prognosis for NSCLC patients (p < 0.05). Additionally, PDE3A is mainly distributed in the LU65 cell line that originated from Asian population. In summary, our study results showed that DBD can treat NSCLC through the synergistic correlation between multiple ingredients, multiple targets, and multiple pathways, thus effectively improving NSCLC prognosis. This study not only reflected the medicinal value of DBD but also provided a solid structural basis for future new drug developments and targeted therapies.

Immunometabolism at the service of traditional Chinese medicine

To enhance therapeutic efficacy and reduce adverse effects, ancient practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) prescribe combinations of plant species/animal species and minerals designated "TCM formulae" developed based on TCM theory and clinical experience. TCM formulae have been shown to exert curative effects on complex diseases via immune regulation but the underlying mechanisms remain unknown at present. Considerable progress in the field of immunometabolism, referring to alterations in the intracellular metabolism of immune cells that regulate their function, has been made over the past decade. The core context of immunometabolism is regulation of the allocation of metabolic resources supporting host defense and survival, which provides a critical additional dimension and emerging insights into how the immune system and metabolism influence each other during disease progression. This review summarizes research findings on the significant association between the immune function and metabolic remodeling in health and disease as well as the therapeutic modulatory effects of TCM formulae on immunometabolism. Progressive elucidation of the immunometabolic mechanisms involved during the course of TCM treatment continues to aid in the identification of novel potential targets against pathogenicity. In this report, we have provided a comprehensive overview of the benefits of TCM based on regulation of immunometabolism that are potentially applicable for the treatment of modern diseases.

Exploration of the Danggui Buxue Decoction Mechanism Regulating the Balance of ESR and AR in the TP53-AKT Signaling Pathway in the Prevention and Treatment of POF

Objective

The purpose of this study was to explore the molecular mechanism of Danggui Buxue Decoction (DBD) intervening premature ovarian failure (POF).

Methods

The active compounds-targets network, active compounds-POF-targets network, and protein-protein interaction (PPI) network were constructed by a network pharmacology approach: Gene Ontology (GO) function and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Gene and Genome (KEGG) pathway analysis by DAVID 6.8 database. The molecular docking method was used to verify the interaction between core components of DBD and targets. Then, High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) analysis was used to determine whether the DBD contained two key components including quercetin and kaempferol. Finally, the estrous cycle, organ index, ELISA, and western blot were used to verify that mechanism of DBD improved POF induced by cyclophosphamide (CTX) in rats.

Results

Based on the network database including TCMSP, Swiss Target Prediction, DisGeNET, DrugBank, OMIM, and Malacard, we built the active compounds-targets network and active compounds-POF-targets network. We found that 2 core compounds (quercetin and kaempferol) and 5 critical targets (TP53, IL6, ESR1, AKT1, and AR) play an important role in the treatment of POF with DBD. The GO and KEGG enrichment analysis showed that the common targets involved a variety of signaling pathways, including the reactive oxygen species metabolic process, release of Cytochrome C from mitochondria and apoptotic signaling pathway, p53 signaling pathway, the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, and the estrogen signaling pathway. The molecular docking showed that quercetin, kaempferol, and 5 critical targets had good results regarding the binding energy. Chromatography showed that DBD contained quercetin and kaempferol compounds, which was consistent with the database prediction results. Based on the above results, we found that the process of DBD interfering POF is closely related to the balance of ESR and AR in TP53-AKT signaling pathway and verified animal experiments. In animal experiments, we have shown that DBD and its active compounds can effectively improve estrus cycle of POF rats, inhibit serum levels of FSH and LH, protein expression levels of Cytochrome C, BAX, p53, and IL6, and promote ovary index, uterine index, serum levels of E₂ and AMH, and protein expression levels of AKT1, ESR1, AR, and BCL2.

Conclusions

DBD and its active components could treat POF by regulating the balance of ESR and AR in TP53-AKT signaling pathway.

Effects of Qinghuang Powder on Acute Myeloid Leukemia Based on Network Pharmacology, Molecular Docking, and In Vitro Experiments

Qinghuang powder (QHP) is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine. This is a unique formula that is frequently used to treat malignant hematological diseases such as acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in modern clinical practice. An approach of network pharmacology and experimental validation were applied to investigate the pharmacological mechanisms of QHP in AML treatment. First, public databases for target genes known to be associated with AML are searched and compared to the target genes of the active compounds in QHP. Second, AML-associated genes and QHP target genes are compared to identify overlapping enriched genes, and these were used to predict selected target genes that may be implicated in the effects of QHP on AML. Additionally, we conducted functional enrichment analyses, such as gene ontology (GO) and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways. The significantly enriched pathway associated with potential target proteins was the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, suggesting that these potential target proteins and pathways may mediate the beneficial biological effects of QHP on AML. All these following genes were found to occur in the compounds-target-pathway networks: AKT1, MAPK1, MAPK3, PIK3CG, CASP3, CASP9, TNF, TGFB1, MAPK8, and TP53. Then, based on the molecular docking studies, it was suggested that the active compound isovitexin can fit into the binding pockets of the top candidate QHP-AML target proteins (PIK3CG). Subsequently, based on the prediction by network pharmacology analysis, both in vitro AML cells and western blot experiments were performed to validate the curative role of QHP. QHP exerted its antitumor activity on AML in vitro, as it inhibits cells proliferation, reduced the expression of Bcl-2 protein, and downregulated the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway. In conclusion, these results revealed that QHP could treat AML via a “multicomponent, multitarget, multipathway” regulatory network. Furthermore, our study also demonstrated that the combination of network pharmacology with the experimental study is effective in discovering and identifying QHP in the treatment of AML and its underlying pharmacological mechanisms.

Network Pharmacology-Based Study on the Active Component and Mechanism of the Anti-Non-Invasive and Invasive Bladder Urothelial Carcinoma Effects of Zhuling Jisheng Decoction

Zhuling Jisheng decoction is employed for the treatment of bladder urothelial cancer in clinical practice of traditional Chinese medicine. However, there are few studies on its precise mechanism. For the antibladder cancer action of Zhuling Jisheng decoction, a network pharmacological technique was used to design a component/target/pathway molecular regulatory network. The TCMSP dataset was used to identify the chemical makeup of Zhuling Jisheng decoction, which was then analyzed and assessed for oral bioavailability and pharmacological similarity. The chemical composition of Zhuling Jisheng decoction was identified through the TCMSP database, and it was evaluated and screened based on oral bioavailability and drug similarity. The GEO database was searched for genes associated with urothelial bladder carcinoma, and gene targets associated with bladder urothelial cancer resistance were chosen by comparison. The function and linked pathways of the target genes were examined and screened using annotation, visualization, and a comprehensive discovery database. The impact of Zhuling Jisheng decoction on urothelial bladder cancer was studied using Cytoscape software to create a component/target/pathway network. Finally, 69 and 55 target genes were discovered for noninvasive bladder urothelial cancer and invasive bladder urothelial cancer, respectively. In noninvasive urothelial cancer, 118 pathways were highly enriched, including the TNF signaling pathway and the IL-17 signaling route. 103 pathways were highly enriched in invasive urothelial cancer, including the p53 signaling route, bladder cancer route, and calcium signaling route. There were 18 and 15 drug targets associated with noninvasive and invasive bladder urothelial carcinoma prognoses. Many signaling pathways directly act on tumours, and indirect pathways inhibit the development of bladder urothelial carcinoma. This research establishes a scientific foundation for further research into the framework of action of Zhuling Jisheng decoction in the therapy of bladder urothelial cancer.

Exploring the mechanism of Buxue Yimu Pill on hemorrhagic anemia through molecular docking, network pharmacology and experimental validation

Buxue Yimu Pill (BYP) is a classic gynecological medicine in China, which is composed of Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels, Leonurus japonicus Houtt, Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bunge, Colla corii asini and Citrus reticulata Blanco. It has been widely used in clinical therapy with the function of enriching Blood, nourishing Qi, and removing blood stasis. The current study was designed to determine the bioactive molecules and therapeutic mechanism of BYP against hemorrhagic anemia. Herein, GC-MS and UPLC/Q-TOF-MS/MS were employed to identify the chemical compounds from BYP. The genecards database (https: //www.genecards.org/) was used to obtain the potential target proteins related to hemorrhagic anemia. Autodock/Vina was adopted to evaluate the binding ability of protein receptors and chemical ligands. Gene ontology and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis were conducted using the ClusterProfiler. As a result, a total of 62 candidate molecules were identified and 152 targets related to hemorrhagic anemia were obtained. Furthermore, 34 active molecules and 140 targets were obtained through the virtual screening experiment. The data of molecular-target (M-T), target-pathway (T-P), and molecular-target-pathway (M-T-P) network suggested that 32 active molecules enhanced hematopoiesis and activated the immune system by regulating 57 important targets. Pharmacological experiments showed that BYP significantly increased the counts of RBC, HGB, and HCT, and significantly down-regulated the expression of EPO, IL-6, CSF3, NOS2, VEGFA, PDGFRB, and TGFB1. The results also showed that leonurine, leonuriside B, leosibiricin, ononin, rutin, astragaloside I, riligustilide and levistolide A, were the active molecules closely related to enriching Blood. In conclusion, based on molecular docking, network pharmacology and validation experiment results, the enriching blood effect of BYP on hemorrhagic anemia may be associated with hematopoiesis, anti-inflammation, and immunity enhancement.

Modulome-Fangjiome Association Study (MoFAS) reveals differential target distribution among four similar fangjis (formulas)

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Precise target distribution is a key issue for further appropriate applications of fangjis (formulas) with similar efficacy and herbal constituents to maximize efficacy and minimize toxicity.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To develop an algorithm for investigating the differential target distributions and characteristic mechanisms of fangjis.

MAIN METHODS

In this study, we proposed a Modulome-Fangjiome Association Study (MoFAS) for comparing fangjis from qi-invigorating and xue-nourishing fangjiome (represented by four fangjis: FEJ, SDT, LYG and QOL). Firstly, the database-driven target network of these 4 fangjis was constructed as qi-xue network and decomposed into modules. Then, the modular map with functional landscape were constructed based on consistency score and enrichment analysis. Finally, we employed a targeting rate (TR) matrix to assess the contribution of this fangjiome to modulome (a set of modules) and compared characteristic effect of fangjis by principal component analysis (PCA).

RESULTS

A qi-xue network constituted by 579 proteins and 23 modules were constructed. In the functional landscape, 3 primary modules were mainly involved in the endocrine system and environmental adaptation. For the target distribution, SDT and QOL were more similar; the FEJ and LYG were located distant from other fangjis according to PCA. The common effects of FEJ, SDT, and QOL focused on stress response and organism development in environmental perturbation, but the FEJ was superior in regulating critical targets, primarily focusing on hormone and neurotransmitter processes. SDT and QOL were concentrated on the majority scale of the qi-xue network, especially for the mitotic cell cycle and development. LYG only targeted lymphocyte costimulation and icosanoid biosynthetic processes.

CONCLUSION

In this study, for the first time, we investigated the difference in the target distribution of qi-invigorating and xue-nourishing fangjiome and provided direct evidence for the characteristic therapeutic effect of these fangjis, which may promote the precise application of fangjis and support the identification of appropriate populations.

Integrating network pharmacology and experimental evidence to decipher the cardioprotective mechanism of Yiqihuoxue decoction in rats after myocardial infarction

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

"Qi deficiency and blood stasis" syndrome is one of the most common syndromes treated with Traditional Chinese Medicine among ischemic heart disease (IHD) patients in clinic. As a Chinese herbal formula with the function of tonifying Qi and activating blood, Yiqihuoxue Decoction (YQHX) has been frequently proven to be effective in the clinical treatment of IHD.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The cardioprotective mechanisms of YQHX in treating ischemic heart disease were investigated, with emphasis on the key targets and pathways.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In the present study, the potential targets of compounds identified in YQHX were predicted using PharmMapper, Symmap, and STITCH databases, and a "herb-compound-target" network was constructed using Cytoscape. Subsequently, the GO and KEGG functional enrichment analyses were analyzed using the DAVID database. Furthermore, a protein-protein interaction network was constructed using STRING to obtain the key target information. Besides, we used a myocardial ischemia rat model to investigate the cardioprotective effects of YQHX. Transmission electron microscopy and Western blotting were used to observe apoptotic bodies and confirm protein expressions of key candidate targets, respectively.

RESULTS

Network pharmacology showed that a total of 141 potential targets were obtained from these databases. The functional analysis results revealed that the targets of YQHX were largely associated with apoptosis, and the PI3K-AKT and MAPK pathways might represent key functional pathways. The hub genes of network include ALB, TP53, AKT1, TNF, VEGFA, EGFR, MAPK1, CASP3, JUN, FN1, MMP9, and MAPK8. In vivo, YQHX significantly improved cardiac function and suppressed apoptosis in ischemic rat myocardium. Furthermore, YQHX could significantly upregulate Nrf2 and HO-1 expression, and inhibit JNK phosphorylation.

CONCLUSIONS

Based on network pharmacology and experimental evidence, this study proves that the cardioprotective effects and mechanisms of YQHX depend on multi-component, multi-target, and multi-pathway. In particular, YQHX exerts anti-apoptotic effects potentially by regulating the Nrf2/HO-1 and JNK-MAPK pathways.

A new method providing complementary explanation of the blood-enriching function and mechanism of unprocessed Angelica sinensis and its four kinds of processed products based on tissue-integrated metabolomics and confirmatory analysis

Angelica sinensis (AS) is a common Traditional Chinese Medicine used for tonifying blood in China. Unprocessed AS and its four kinds of processed products (ASs) are used to treat blood deficiency syndrome in the country. The different blood-tonifying mechanisms of ASs remain unclear. In this work, a novel method integrating metabolomics and hematological and biochemical parameters was established to provide a complementary explanation of blood supplementation mechanism of ASs. Our results revealed that different ASs exhibited various blood supplementation effect, and that AS parched with alcohol demonstrated the best blood supplementation effect. Eight metabolites from liver tissue and 12 metabolites from spleen tissue were considered to be potential biomarkers. These biomarkers were involved in four metabolic pathways. Correlation analysis results showed that l-aspartic acid and l-alanine (spleen tissue), linoleic acid, and l-cystathionine (liver tissue) exhibited a high positive or negative correlation with the aforesaid biochemical indicators. The blood-supplementation effect mechanism of ASs were related to four metabolic pathways. l-Aspartic acid and l-alanine (spleen tissue), linoleic acid, and l-cystathionine (liver tissue) were the four key metabolites associated with the blood supplementation effect of ASs. This study gives a complementary explanation of the blood supplementation effect and mechanism of action of ASs.

Network pharmacology-based investigation to explore the effect and mechanism of Erchen decoction against the nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

This study aimed to uncover the potential mechanism of Erchen decoction (ECD) on the amelioration of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Network pharmacology and bioinformatics were used to determine the active components of ECD and its potential target in treating NAFLD. High fat diet (HFD)-induced NAFLD mice model was used. Liver tissues were stained with hematoxylin and eosin, and Oil Red O. Serum lipid profiles and hepatic inflammatory molecules in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)/Toll-like receptor-4 (TLR-4) pathway were confirmed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Intestinal barrier function, including intestinal epithelial tight junction (IETJ) proteins, fecal short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) concentration and intestinal microbiota composition, was also assessed. Screening relevant databases revealed 123 active components and 158 potential target proteins in ECD, as well as 1,783 differential genes for NAFLD. Enrichment analyses predicted that the regulation of LPS, cholesterol metabolism and inflammatory pathways might be the underlying mechanisms of ECD in NAFLD treatment. ECD ameliorated the multi-profiles of NAFLD and reversed the high levels of inflammatory molecules such as, serum LPS, hepatic TLR-4, tumor necrosis factor-α, and interleukin-1β. Additionally, ECD upregulated the concentration levels of IETJ proteins and fecal SCFAs. 16s RNA sequencing indicated that ECD can improve the gut microbiota, such as Akkermansia, Clostridium XIVa, Coprococcus, and Ruminococcus. The current study demonstrated that ECD can reverse the HFD-induced intestinal barrier dysfunction, thereby reducing the LPS translocation and alleviating the hepatic inflammation, and eventually exhibiting a protective effect against NAFLD.

Discovery of the signal pathways and major bioactive compounds responsible for the anti-hypoxia effect of Chinese cordyceps

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Hypoxia will cause an increase in the rate of fatigue and aging. Chinese cordyceps, a parasitic Thitarodes insect-Ophiocordyceps sinensis fungus complex in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, has long been used to ameliorate human conditions associated with aging and senescence, it is principally applied to treat fatigue, night sweating and other symptoms related to aging, and it may play the anti-aging and anti-fatigue effect by improving the body's hypoxia tolerance.

AIMS OF THE STUDY

The present study investigated the anti-hypoxia activity of Chinese cordyceps and explore the main corresponding signal pathways and bioactive compounds.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this study, network pharmacology analysis, molecular docking, cell and whole pharmacodynamic experiments were hired to study the major signal pathways and the bioactive compounds of Chinese cordyceps for anti-hypoxia activity.

RESULTS

17 pathways which Chinese cordyceps acted on seemed to be related to the anti-hypoxia effect, and "VEGF signal pathway" was one of the most important pathway. Chinese cordyceps improved the survival rate and regulated the targets related VEGF signal pathway of H9C2 cells under hypoxia, and also had significant anti-hypoxia effects to mice. Chorioallantoic membrane model experiment showed that Chinese cordyceps and the main constituents of (9Z,12Z)-octadeca-9,12-dienoic acid and cerevisterol had significant angiogenic activity in hypoxia condition.

CONCLUSION

Based on the results of network pharmacology and molecular docking analysis, cell and whole pharmacodynamic experiments, promoting angiogenesis by regulating VEGF signal pathway might be one of the mechanisms of anti-hypoxia effect of Chinese cordyceps, (9Z, 12Z)-octadeca-9,12-dienoic acid and cerevisterol were considered as the major anti-hypoxia bioactive compounds in Chinese cordyceps.

Unveiling Potential Active Constituents and Pharmacological Mechanisms of Pudilanxiaoyan Oral Liquid for Anti-Coronavirus Pneumonia Using Network Pharmacology

The outbreak of novel coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19), defined as a worldwide pandemic, has been a public health emergency of international concern. Pudilanxiaoyan oral liquid (PDL), an effective drug of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), is considered to be an effective and alternative means for clinical prevention of COVID-19. The purpose of this study was to identify potential active constituents of PDL, and explore its underlying anti-COVID-19 mechanism using network pharmacology. Integration of target prediction (SwissTargetPrediction and STITCH database) was used to elucidate the active components of PDL. Protein–protein interaction network analyses, gene ontology, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment analyses, network construction, and molecular docking were applied to analyze the prospective mechanisms of the predicted target genes. Our results showed that the key active ingredients in PDL were luteolin, apigenin, esculetin, chrysin, baicalein, oroxylin A, baicalin, wogonin, cymaroside, and gallic acid. A majority of the predicted targets were mainly involved in the pathways related to viral infection, lung injury, and inflammatory responses. An in vitro study further inferred that inhibiting the activity of nuclear factor (NF)-кB signaling pathway was a key mechanism by which PDL exerted anti-COVID-19 effects. This study not only provides chemical basis and pharmacology of PDL but also the rationale for strategies to exploring future TCM for COVID-19 therapy.

Artificial intelligence to deep learning: machine intelligence approach for drug discovery

Drug designing and development is an important area of research for pharmaceutical companies and chemical scientists. However, low efficacy, off-target delivery, time consumption, and high cost impose a hurdle and challenges that impact drug design and discovery. Further, complex and big data from genomics, proteomics, microarray data, and clinical trials also impose an obstacle in the drug discovery pipeline. Artificial intelligence and machine learning technology play a crucial role in drug discovery and development. In other words, artificial neural networks and deep learning algorithms have modernized the area. Machine learning and deep learning algorithms have been implemented in several drug discovery processes such as peptide synthesis, structure-based virtual screening, ligand-based virtual screening, toxicity prediction, drug monitoring and release, pharmacophore modeling, quantitative structure-activity relationship, drug repositioning, polypharmacology, and physiochemical activity. Evidence from the past strengthens the implementation of artificial intelligence and deep learning in this field. Moreover, novel data mining, curation, and management techniques provided critical support to recently developed modeling algorithms. In summary, artificial intelligence and deep learning advancements provide an excellent opportunity for rational drug design and discovery process, which will eventually impact mankind. The primary concern associated with drug design and development is time consumption and production cost. Further, inefficiency, inaccurate target delivery, and inappropriate dosage are other hurdles that inhibit the process of drug delivery and development. With advancements in technology, computer-aided drug design integrating artificial intelligence algorithms can eliminate the challenges and hurdles of traditional drug design and development. Artificial intelligence is referred to as superset comprising machine learning, whereas machine learning comprises supervised learning, unsupervised learning, and reinforcement learning. Further, deep learning, a subset of machine learning, has been extensively implemented in drug design and development. The artificial neural network, deep neural network, support vector machines, classification and regression, generative adversarial networks, symbolic learning, and meta-learning are examples of the algorithms applied to the drug design and discovery process. Artificial intelligence has been applied to different areas of drug design and development process, such as from peptide synthesis to molecule design, virtual screening to molecular docking, quantitative structure-activity relationship to drug repositioning, protein misfolding to protein-protein interactions, and molecular pathway identification to polypharmacology. Artificial intelligence principles have been applied to the classification of active and inactive, monitoring drug release, pre-clinical and clinical development, primary and secondary drug screening, biomarker development, pharmaceutical manufacturing, bioactivity identification and physiochemical properties, prediction of toxicity, and identification of mode of action.

The antidepressant-like effects of Danggui Buxue Decoction in GK rats by activating CREB/BDNF/TrkB signaling pathway

BACKGROUND

High rates of co-morbidity have been reported in patients with diabetes mellitus with depression (DD). Danggui Buxue Decoction (DBD), a Traditional Chinese Medicine formula composed of Angelica and Astragalus, has been historically used for the treatment of diabetes.

PURPOSE

This study aimed to investigated whether DBD and its main active component, ferulic acid (FA) from Angelica, could ameliorate depression-like behavior in DD and the underlying mechanisms.

METHODS

Goto-Kakizaki (GK) rats were administered DBD (4 or 8 g/kg) by oral gavage during a 4-week period of chronic unpredictable mild stress. After 4 weeks, blood glucose, glycated serum protein, serum insulin, oral glucose tolerance and depression-like behavior were examined, along with brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)-related signaling pathway proteins and the ultrastructure of hippocampal tissues. UPLC-QTOF-MS was adopted to detect the absorption of FA in the serum and hippocampus. Rat primary hippocampal cells were cultured in a DD model. Protein and mRNA levels of genes involved in BDNF-related signaling and neuroplasticity were analyzed.

RESULTS

DBD effectively improved glucose tolerance in DD rats and relieved depression-like behavior. Upregulation of cAMP response element binding protein (CREB), BDNF, and tropomyosin receptor kinase B (TrkB) and improvement of the hippocampal neuron ultrastructure supported the antidepressant-Like effects of DBD on the hippocampal neurons. In addition, DBD enhanced the protein and mRNA levels of components of the CREB/BDNF/TrkB pathway in rat primary hippocampal cells induced by elevated glycemia and cortisol. Interestingly, FA, the main component of DBD absorbed in the blood and hippocampus, showed similar effects as DBD on primary hippocampal cells.

CONCLUSION

This study suggests that the TCM formula DBD effectively serves as a potential therapeutic agent for prevention of DD through regulatory effects on the CREB/BDNF/TrkB pathway to protect and remodel hippocampal neurons. Moreover, FA contributes significantly to the treatment effects of DBD.

A Network Pharmacology Approach to Investigate the Mechanism of Erjing Prescription in Type 2 Diabetes

Erjing prescription (EJP) was an ancient formula that was recorded in the General Medical Collection of Royal Benevolence of the Song Dynasty. It has been frequently used to treat type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in the long history of China. The formula consists of Lycium barbarum L. and Polygonatum sibiricum F. Delaroche with a ratio of 1 : 1. This study aimed to identify the potential effects and mechanisms of EJP treatment T2DM. The target proteins and possible pathways of EJP in T2DM treatment were investigated by the approach of network pharmacology and real-time PCR (RT-PCR). 99 diabetes-related proteins were regulated by 56 bioactive constituents in EJP in 26 signal pathways by Cytoscape determination. According to GO analysis, 606 genes entries have been enriched. The PPI network suggested that AKT1, EGF, EGFR, MAPK1, and GSK3β proteins were core genes. Among the 26 signal pathways, the PI3K-AKT signal pathway was tested by the RT-PCR. The expression level of PI3K p85, AKT1, GSK3β, and Myc mRNA of this pathway was regulated by EJP. The study based on network pharmacology and RT-PCR analysis revealed that the blood sugar level was regulated by EJP via regulating the PI3K-AKT signal pathway. Plenty of new treatment methods for T2DM using EJP were provided by network pharmacology analysis.

Deciphering the metabolic profile and pharmacological mechanisms of Achyranthes bidentata blume saponins using ultra-performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry coupled with network pharmacology-based investigation

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Achyranthes bidentata Blume (AB) is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) widely used as a dietary supplement and anti-arthritis drug. Pharmacological studies have shown that Achyranthes bidentata Blume saponins (ABS) are the main bioactive ingredient. However, the metabolic profile and mechanisms of action of ABS against rheumatic arthritis (RA) remain to be established.

AIM OF THE STUDY

Our main objective was to investigate the metabolic profile and pharmacological activities of ABS against RA.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this study, an analytical method based on ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-QTOF/MS) coupled with a metabolism platform was developed for metabolic profiling of ABS in rat liver microsomes and plasma. Then, the in vivo metabolites of ABS and their targets associated with RA were used to construct the network pharmacological analysis. Gene ontology (GO) enrichment, KEGG signaling pathway analyses and pathway network analyses were performed. The therapeutic effect of ABS on RA was further evaluated using an adjuvant arthritis (AA) model and network pharmacology results validated via Western blot.

RESULTS

Overall, 26 and 21 metabolites of ABS were tentatively characterized in rat liver microsomes and plasma, respectively. The metabolic pathways of ABS mainly included M+O, M+O-H2, M+O2, and M+O2-H2. Data form network pharmacology analysis suggested that MAPK, apoptosis, PI3K-AKT and p53 signaling pathways contribute significantly to the therapeutic effects of ABS on RA. In pharmacodynamics experiments, ABS ameliorated the symptoms in AA rats in a dose-dependent manner and restored the homeostasis of pro/anti-inflammatory factors. Western blot results further demonstrated a significant ABS-induced decrease in phosphorylation of ERK in the MAPK pathway (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

Application of an analytical method based on UPLC-QTOF/MS, network pharmacology and validation experiments offers novel insights into the components and mechanisms of ABS that contribute to its therapeutic effects against RA, providing useful directions for further research.