Integration of Network Pharmacology and Experimental Validation to Explore the Pharmacological Mechanisms of Zhuanggu Busui Formula Against Osteoporosis

Integrating network pharmacology and experimental verification to investigate the pharmacological mechanisms of Buzhong Yiqi decoction in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer

Among all types of cancers, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) exhibits the highest mortality rate with a five-year survival rate below 17% for patients. The Buzhong Yiqi decoction (BZYQD), traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula, has been reported to exhibit clinical efficacy in the treatment of NSCLC. Nevertheless, the underlying molecular mechanism remains elusive. This study aimed to assess the mechanistic actions exerted by BZYQD against NSCLC using network pharmacological analysis and experimental validation. The public databases were searched for active compounds in BZYQD, their potential targets, and NSCLC-related targets. The protein-protein interaction (PPI) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses were performed to predict the core targets and signaling pathways of BZYQD against NSCLC. After screening, this study validated the results of predictions through in vitro experiments and public databases. We found 192 common targets between BZYQD and NSCLC. KEGG analysis showed that the anti-NSCLC effects of BZYQD were mediated through the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway. The results of in vitro experiment indicated that BZYQD could inhibit cell viability and proliferation of A549 and H1299 cells apart from inducing cell apoptosis. In addition, western blot results substantiated that BZYQD could treat NSCLC by inhibiting the activation of the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway. The current study investigated the pharmacological mechanism of BZYQD against NSCLC via network pharmacology and in vitro analyses. Overall, the results revealed that BZYQD could be a promising therapeutic agent for the treatment of NSCLC in the future. Still, more experimental investigations are needed to confirm the applicability of BZYQD for clinical trials.

Exploring the potential mechanism of Taohong Siwu decoction in the treatment of avascular necrosis of the femoral head based on network pharmacology and molecular docking

Based on network pharmacology and molecular docking, this study seeks to investigate the mechanism of Taohong Siwu decoction (THSWD) in the treatment of avascular necrosis of the femoral head (AVNFH). The Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology database was used in this investigation to obtain the active ingredients and related targets for each pharmaceutical constituent in THSWD. To find disease-related targets, the terms "avascular necrosis of the femoral head," "necrosis of the femoral head," "steroid-induced necrosis of the femoral head," "osteonecrosis," and "avascular necrosis of the bone" were searched in the databases DisGeNET, GeneCards, Comparative Toxicogenomics Database, and MalaCards. Following the identification of the overlap targets of THSWD and AVNFH, enrichment analysis using gene ontology, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes, Reactome, and WikiPathways was conducted. The "THSWD-drug-active compound-intersection gene-hub gene-AVNFH" network and protein-protein interaction network were built using Cytoscape 3.9.1 and string, and CytoHubba was used to screen hub genes. The binding activities of hub gene targets and key components were confirmed by molecular docking. 152 prospective therapeutic gene targets were found in the bioinformatics study of ONFH treated with THSWD, including 38 major gene targets and 10 hub gene targets. The enrichment analysis of 38 key therapeutic targets showed that the biological process of gene ontology analysis mainly involved cytokine-mediated signaling pathway, angiogenesis, cellular response to reactive oxygen species, death-inducing signaling complex. The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes signaling pathway mainly involves TNF signaling pathway, IL-17 signaling pathway, and the Recactome pathway mainly involves Signaling by Interleukins, Apoptosis, and Intrinsic Pathway for Apoptosis. WikiPathways signaling pathway mainly involves TNF-related weak inducer of apoptosis signaling pathway, IL-18 signaling pathway. According to the findings of enrichment analysis, THSWD cured AVNFH by regulating angiogenesis, cellular hypoxia, inflammation, senescence, apoptosis, cytokines, and cellular proliferation through the aforementioned targets and signaling pathways. The primary component of THSWD exhibits a strong binding force with the key protein of AVNFH. This study sheds new light on the biological mechanism of THSWD in treating AVNFH by revealing the multi-component, multi-target, and multi-pathway features and molecular docking mechanism of THSWD.

Aconine attenuates osteoclast-mediated bone resorption and ferroptosis to improve osteoporosis via inhibiting NF-κB signaling

Osteoporosis (OP), a prevalent public health concern primarily caused by osteoclast-induced bone resorption, requires potential therapeutic interventions. Natural compounds show potential as therapeutics for postmenopausal OP. Emerging evidence from in vitro osteoclastogenesis assay suggests that aconine (AC) serves as an osteoclast differentiation regulator without causing cytotoxicity. However, the in vivo functions of AC in various OP models need clarification. To address this, we administered intraperitoneal injections of AC to ovariectomy (OVX)-induced OP mice for 8 weeks and found that AC effectively reversed the OP phenotype of OVX mice, leading to a reduction in vertebral bone loss and restoration of high bone turnover markers. Specifically, AC significantly suppressed osteoclastogenesis in vivo and in vitro by decreasing the expression of osteoclast-specific genes such as NFATc1, c-Fos, Cathepsin K, and Mmp9. Importantly, AC can regulate osteoclast ferroptosis by suppressing Gpx4 and upregulating Acsl4, which is achieved through inhibition of the phosphorylation of I-κB and p65 in the NF-κB signaling pathway. These findings suggest that AC is a potential therapeutic option for managing OP by suppressing NF-κB signaling-mediated osteoclast ferroptosis and formation.

Caizhixuan hair tonic regulates both apoptosis and the PI3K/Akt pathway to treat androgenetic alopecia

PURPOSE

Caizhixuan hair tonic (CZX) is a topical traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) preparation for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia (AGA). However, its active compounds and underlying mechanism for treating AGA are still unclear. The purpose of this study was to observe the effects of CZX on hair growth promotion in AGA mice and to explore the active components and mechanism.

METHODS

Testosterone propionate was administered subcutaneously to mice to establish an AGA mouse model. The therapeutic effects of CZX on AGA were evaluated by observing skin colour changes, hair growth time, and average hair length; calculating the hair growth score; and performing skin histopathological analysis. Following that, CZX chemical components were analysed by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF/MS). Network pharmacology was used to predict the major effects and possible mechanisms of CZX for the treatment of AGA. Furthermore, RT-qPCR and Western blotting were performed to assess the expression of key genes and proteins involved in PI3K/Akt and apoptosis pathways in order to validate CZX's predicted mechanism in AGA.

RESULTS

CZX promoted hair growth and improved the pathological morphology of hair follicles in the skin. In UPLC-Q-TOF/MS analysis, 69 components from CZX were isolated. Based on network pharmacology, CZX alleviated AGA by regulating PI3K/Akt and apoptosis pathways. According to RT-qPCR and Western blotting, CZX upregulated the expressions of PI3K, Akt, and Bcl-2, while downregulating that of Bax and caspase-3.

CONCLUSIONS

CZX promotes hair growth to treat AGA by regulating the PI3K/Akt and apoptosis pathways.