Analysis of the pharmacodynamic difference between Xiaojin Pills taken with Chinese Baijiu and water based on serum pharmacochemistry and pharmacokinetics

Exploring of Antidepressant Components and Mechanisms of Zhizichi Decoction: Integration of Serum Pharmacochemistry, Network Pharmacology and Anti-inflammatory Analysis Verification

Using LC-MS to screen and analyse the characteristics of components and biological systems is a new approach to study the pharmacological substance basis of traditional Chinese medicine, which has strong novelty in analytical science. This study analyses the antidepressant material basis of Zhizichi decoction through the integration strategy of serum pharmacochemistry, network pharmacology and immunoreactivity verification, which helps in overcoming the limitations of TCM research and provided a new perspective and approach for studying the components of ZZCD. First of all, blood from SD rats was collected before and after Zhizichi decoction administration initially. The migration constituents in the serum were then analysed using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-Q-TOF-MS/MS. By integrating the TCMSP databases with the serum pharmacochemistry results, we constructed the 'ingredients-targets-pathways' network and the protein-protein interaction network for Zhizichi decoction's depression-relieving. Finally, the inhibitory effects of Zhizichi decoction and active ingredient groups comprised of pharmacodynamic components identified in prior network pharmacology study on IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α were measured through an inflammatory cytokines experiments. From the serum pharmacochemistry study, 146 migration constituents in serum and their attribution were hypothesized and characterized. They were identified as 18 prototype components and 128 metabolites, of which 121 were Phase I and 7 were Phase II metabolites. The Zhizichi decoction pharmacology network illustrated the relationships of the 20 definitive ingredients, 85 potential targets and 21 signalling pathways in connection with the depression. The targets predicted by pharmacology and protein-protein interaction network were reported to be associated with neuroinflammation, which suggested that further anti-inflammatory experiment was required. For the anti-inflammatory effect of AIGs 1 composed of 14 pharmacodynamic components was basically equivalent to that of whole ZZCD recipe, AIG 1 was hypothesized to be the critical pharmacodynamic components to inhibit inflammatory factors and defined as the antidepressant components' of Zhizichi decoction, providing a scientific foundation for the pursuit of potential new drugs for depression treatments.

Integrated serum pharmacochemistry, pharmacokinetics, and network analysis to explore active components of BuShao Tiaozhi Capsule on hyperlipidemia

BuShao Tiaozhi Capsule (BSTZC), a novel drug in China, has been used to treat hyperlipidemia (HLP) in clinical practice for many years. Despite our previous studies suggesting that BSTZC can treat HLP, there is a lack of a rapid and systematic method to explore its active components. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to investigate the active components and mechanisms of BSTZC in treating HLP by integrating serum pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, network analysis, and experimental validation. We first established UPLC fingerprints, calibrated 23 common peaks, and identified 13 common peaks, and the similarity was greater than 0.99 for 10 batches. A total of nine metabolites from BSTZC were identified in serum and considered as PK markers. The pharmacokinetic parameters of the PK markers were compared between the control group and the model group through the pharmacokinetics study to determine the dynamic changes of representative components in rats. Compared with the control group, the Cmax and AUC0→t of OXY, IVT, IVL, and KPF-3-G were significantly higher (P< 0.05); the AUC0→∞ of OXY, PN, and IVT was significantly higher (P< 0.05); and the t1/2 of IVT, SA, and KPF-3-G was significantly different (P< 0.05). In vivo experiments showed that BSTZC and its active components could effectively alleviate lipid metabolism disorders and liver injury, with obvious lipid-lowering effects. Further studies showed that BSTZC alleviated HLP by inhibiting the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, which was consistent with the results of the network analysis study. Our results revealed the active components and mechanisms of BSTZC in the treatment of HLP, which could provide useful information to guide the clinical application of BSTZC.

Mechanistic study of leukopenia treatment by Qijiao shengbai Capsule via the Bcl2/Bax/CASAPSE3 pathway

Background

Leukopenia can be caused by chemotherapy, which suppresses bone marrow function and can impact the effectiveness of cancer treatment. Qijiao Shengbai Capsule (QJSB) is commonly used to treat leukopenia, but the specific bioactive components and mechanisms of action are not well understood.

Objectives and results

This study aimed to analyze the active ingredients of QJSB and its potential targets for treating leukopenia using network pharmacology and molecular docking. Through a combination of serum pharmacochemistry, multi-omics, network pharmacology, and validation experiments in a murine leukopenia model, the researchers sought to understand how QJSB improves leukopenia. The study identified 16 key components of QJSB that act in vivo to increase the number of white blood cells in leukopenic mice. Multi-omics analysis and network pharmacology revealed that the PI3K-Akt and MAPK signaling pathways are important in the treatment of leukopenia with QJSB. Five specific targets (JUN, FOS, BCl-2, CASPAS-3) were identified as key targets.

Conclusion

Validation experiments confirmed that QJSB regulates genes related to cell growth and inhibits apoptosis, suggesting that apoptosis may play a crucial role in leukopenia development and that QJSB may improve immune function by regulating apoptotic proteins and increasing CD4+ T cell count in leukopenic mice.

Network pharmacology-based approach uncovers the pharmacodynamic components and mechanism of Fructus Tribuli for improving endothelial dysfunction in hypertension

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Fructus Tribuli (FT), a traditional Chinese medicinal herbal, has been used for the clinical treatment of cardiovascular diseases for many years and affects vascular endothelial dysfunction (ED) in patients with hypertension.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study aimed to demonstrate the pharmacodynamic basis and mechanisms of FT for the treatment of ED.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The present study used ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadruple-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-Q-TOF/MS) to analyze and identify the chemical components of FT. The active components in blood were determined after the oral administration of FT by comparative analysis to blank plasma. Then, based on the active components in vivo, network pharmacology was performed to predict the potential targets of FT in treating ED. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses were also performed, and component-target-pathway networks were constructed. Interactions between the major active components and main targets were verified by molecular docking. Moreover, spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) were divided into the normal, model, valsartan, low-dose FT, medium-dose FT, and high-dose FT experimental groups. In pharmacodynamic verification studies, treatment effects on blood pressure, serum markers (nitric oxide [NO], endothelin-1 [ET-1,], and angiotensin Ⅱ [Ang Ⅱ)]) of ED, and endothelial morphology of the thoracic aorta were evaluated and compared between groups. Finally, the PI3K/AKT/eNOS pathway was analyzed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western blot of the thoracic aorta of rats in each group to detect the mRNA expression of PI3K, AKT, and eNOS and the protein expression of PI3K, AKT, p-AKT, eNOS, and p-eNOS.

RESULTS

A total of 51 chemical components were identified in FT, and 49 active components were identified in rat plasma. Thirteen major active components, 22 main targets, and the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway were screened by network pharmacology. The animal experiment results showed that FT reduced systolic blood pressure and ET-1 and Ang Ⅱ levels and increased NO levels in SHRs to varying degrees. The therapeutic effects were positively correlated with the oral dose of FT. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining confirmed that FT could alleviate the pathological damage of the vascular endothelium. qRT-PCR and Western blot analysis confirmed that up-regulated expression of the PI3K/AKT/eNOS signaling pathway could improve ED.

CONCLUSIONS

In this study, the material basis of FT was comprehensively identified, and the protective effect on ED was confirmed. FT had a treatment effect on ED through multi-component, multi-target, and multi-pathways. It also played a role by up-regulating the PI3K/AKT/eNOS signaling pathway.

Rapid identification of chemical components in vitro and in vivo of Menispermi Rhizoma by integrating UPLC-Q-TOF-MS with data post-processing strategy

INTRODUCTION

Menispermi Rhizoma (MR), the dried rhizome of Menispermum dauricum DC. (Menispermaceae), has been used to treat sore throat, enteritis, dysentery, and rheumatic arthralgia. Despite extensive research on its pharmacological effects, the chemical components in vitro and in vivo have not been thoroughly studied.

OBJECTIVE

To establish an efficient method for rapid classification and identification of alkaloids in MR and its preparations, as well as metabolites in vivo after oral administration of MR.

METHODS

Rapid identification of alkaloids and absorbed components of MR was performed using ultra-performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS) coupled with UNIFI software. Moreover, the characteristic fragmentations and neutral losses of different types of alkaloids in MR were summarised to realise the rapid classification of alkaloids.

RESULTS

A total of 55 components were unambiguously or tentatively identified in MR. Among them, 37 and 31 components were found in MR capsules and tablets, respectively. Meanwhile, 109 compounds were tentatively identified in rat plasma, urine and faeces, including 55 prototypes and 54 metabolites. Hydrogenation, hydroxylation, methylation, glucuronic acid and sulphate conjugations were the dominating metabolic fates of alkaloids.

CONCLUSION

The data post-processing strategy established could greatly enhance the structural identification efficiency. The results obtained might lay the foundation for further interpretation of clinical effects, mechanism of action and quality control of MR.