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Chen C, Gong W, Tian J, Gao X, Qin X, Du G, Zhou Y. Radix Paeoniae Alba attenuates Radix Bupleuri-induced hepatotoxicity by modulating gut microbiota to alleviate the inhibition of saikosaponins on glutathione synthetase. J Pharm Anal 2023; 13:640-659. [PMID: 37440914 PMCID: PMC10334278 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpha.2023.04.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Revised: 04/07/2023] [Accepted: 04/23/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Radix Bupleuri (RB) is commonly used to treat depression, but it can also lead to hepatotoxicity after long-term use. In many anti-depression prescriptions, RB is often used in combination with Radix Paeoniae Alba (RPA) as an herb pair. However, whether RPA can alleviate RB-induced hepatotoxicity remain unclear. In this work, the results confirmed that RB had a dose-dependent antidepressant effect, but the optimal antidepressant dose caused hepatotoxicity. Notably, RPA effectively reversed RB-induced hepatotoxicity. Afterward, the mechanism of RB-induced hepatotoxicity was confirmed. The results showed that saikosaponin A and saikosaponin D could inhibit GSH synthase (GSS) activity in the liver, and further cause liver injury through oxidative stress and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB)/NOD-like receptor thermal protein domain associated protein 3 (NLRP3) pathway. Furthermore, the mechanisms by which RPA attenuates RB-induced hepatotoxicity were investigated. The results demonstrated that RPA increased the abundance of intestinal bacteria with glycosidase activity, thereby promoting the conversion of saikosaponins to saikogenins in vivo. Different from saikosaponin A and saikosaponin D, which are directly combined with GSS as an inhibitor, their deglycosylation conversion products saikogenin F and saikogenin G exhibited no GSS binding activity. Based on this, RPA can alleviate the inhibitory effect of saikosaponins on GSS activity to reshape the liver redox balance and further reverse the RB-induced liver inflammatory response by the NF-κB/NLRP3 pathway. In conclusion, the present study suggests that promoting the conversion of saikosaponins by modulating gut microbiota to attenuate the inhibition of GSS is the potential mechanism by which RPA prevents RB-induced hepatotoxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Congcong Chen
- Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, The Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, 030006, China
- Key Laboratory of Effective Substances Research and Utilization in TCM of Shanxi Province, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, 030006, China
| | - Wenxia Gong
- Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, The Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, 030006, China
- Key Laboratory of Effective Substances Research and Utilization in TCM of Shanxi Province, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, 030006, China
| | - Junshen Tian
- Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, The Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, 030006, China
- Key Laboratory of Effective Substances Research and Utilization in TCM of Shanxi Province, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, 030006, China
| | - Xiaoxia Gao
- Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, The Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, 030006, China
- Key Laboratory of Effective Substances Research and Utilization in TCM of Shanxi Province, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, 030006, China
| | - Xuemei Qin
- Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, The Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, 030006, China
- Key Laboratory of Effective Substances Research and Utilization in TCM of Shanxi Province, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, 030006, China
| | - Guanhua Du
- Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, The Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, 030006, China
- Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, China
| | - Yuzhi Zhou
- Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, The Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, 030006, China
- Key Laboratory of Effective Substances Research and Utilization in TCM of Shanxi Province, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, 030006, China
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Chen C, Tian J, Gao X, Qin X, Du G, Zhou Y. An integrated strategy to study the combination mechanisms of Bupleurum chinense DC and Paeonia lactiflora Pall for treating depression based on correlation analysis between serum chemical components profiles and endogenous metabolites profiles. J Ethnopharmacol 2023; 305:116068. [PMID: 36574791 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2022.116068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2022] [Revised: 11/28/2022] [Accepted: 12/16/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Bupleurum chinense DC-Paeonia lactiflora Pall (BCD-PLP) is a common clinical herb pair in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) prescriptions commonly used to treat depression. However, its combination mechanisms with its anti-depressive effects remain highly unclear. AIM OF THE STUDY Here, an effective strategy has been developed to study the combination mechanisms of Bupleurum chinense DC (BCD) and Paeonia lactiflora Pall (PLP) by integrating serum pharmacochemistry analysis, metabolomics technology, and molecular docking technology. MATERIALS AND METHODS First, the depression model rats were replicated by the chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) procedure, and the difference in the chemical composition in vivo before and after the combination of BCD and PLP was analyzed by integrating background subtraction and multivariate statistical analysis techniques. Then, UPLC/HRMS-based serum metabolomics was performed to analyze the synergistic effect on metabolite regulation before and after the combination of BCD and PLP. Further, the correlation analysis between the differential exogenous chemical components and the differential endogenous metabolites before and after the combination was employed to dissect the combination mechanisms from a global perspective of combining metabolomics and serum pharmacochemistry. Finally, the molecular docking between the differential chemical components and the key metabolic enzymes was applied to verify the regulatory effect of the differential exogenous chemical components on the differential endogenous metabolites. RESULTS The serum pharmacochemistry analysis results demonstrated that the combination of BCD and PLP could significantly affect the content of 10 components in BCD (including 5 prototype components were significantly decreased and 5 metabolites were significantly increased) and 8 components in PLP (including 4 prototype components and 3 metabolites were significantly increased, 1 metabolite was significantly decreased), which indicated that the combination could enhance BCD prototype components' metabolism and the absorption of the PLP prototype components. Besides, metabolomics results indicated that the BCD-PLP herb pair group significantly reversed more metabolites (8) than BCD and PLP single herb group (5 & 4) and has a stronger regulatory effect on metabolite disorders caused by CUMS. Furthermore, the correlation analysis results suggested that saikogenin F and saikogenin G were significantly positively correlated with the endogenous metabolite itaconate, an endogenous anti-inflammatory metabolite; and benzoic acid was significantly positively correlated with D-serine, an endogenous metabolite with an antidepressant effect. Finally, the molecular docking results further confirmed that the combination of BCD and PLP could affect the activities of cis-aconitic acid decarboxylase and D-amino acid oxidase by increasing the in vivo concentration of saikogenin F and benzoic acid, which further enhances its anti-inflammatory activity and anti-depressive effect. CONCLUSIONS In this study, an effective strategy has been developed to study the combination mechanisms of BCD and PLP by integrating serum pharmacochemistry analysis, multivariate statistical analysis, metabolomics technology, and molecular docking technology. Based on this strategy, the present study indicated that the combination of BCD and PLP could affect the activities of cis-aconitic acid decarboxylase and D-amino acid oxidase by increasing the concentration of saikogenin F and benzoic acid in vivo, which further enhances its anti-depressive effect. In short, this strategy will provide a reliable method for elucidating the herb-herb compatibility mechanism of TCM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Congcong Chen
- Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, The Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, Shanxi University, No. 92, Wucheng Road, Taiyuan, 030006, Shanxi, PR China; Key Laboratory of Effective Substances Research and Utilization in TCM of Shanxi Province, Shanxi University, No. 92, Wucheng Road, Taiyuan, 030006, Shanxi, PR China
| | - Junshen Tian
- Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, The Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, Shanxi University, No. 92, Wucheng Road, Taiyuan, 030006, Shanxi, PR China; Key Laboratory of Effective Substances Research and Utilization in TCM of Shanxi Province, Shanxi University, No. 92, Wucheng Road, Taiyuan, 030006, Shanxi, PR China
| | - Xiaoxia Gao
- Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, The Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, Shanxi University, No. 92, Wucheng Road, Taiyuan, 030006, Shanxi, PR China; Key Laboratory of Effective Substances Research and Utilization in TCM of Shanxi Province, Shanxi University, No. 92, Wucheng Road, Taiyuan, 030006, Shanxi, PR China
| | - Xuemei Qin
- Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, The Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, Shanxi University, No. 92, Wucheng Road, Taiyuan, 030006, Shanxi, PR China; Key Laboratory of Effective Substances Research and Utilization in TCM of Shanxi Province, Shanxi University, No. 92, Wucheng Road, Taiyuan, 030006, Shanxi, PR China
| | - Guanhua Du
- Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, The Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, Shanxi University, No. 92, Wucheng Road, Taiyuan, 030006, Shanxi, PR China; Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, PR China
| | - Yuzhi Zhou
- Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, The Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, Shanxi University, No. 92, Wucheng Road, Taiyuan, 030006, Shanxi, PR China; Key Laboratory of Effective Substances Research and Utilization in TCM of Shanxi Province, Shanxi University, No. 92, Wucheng Road, Taiyuan, 030006, Shanxi, PR China.
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Li X, Qin XM, Tian JS, Gao XX, Du GH, Zhou YZ. Integrated network pharmacology and metabolomics to dissect the combination mechanisms of Bupleurum chinense DC-Paeonia lactiflora Pall herb pair for treating depression. J Ethnopharmacol 2021; 264:113281. [PMID: 32810624 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2020.113281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2020] [Revised: 08/05/2020] [Accepted: 08/11/2020] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE The compatibility of Bupleurum chinense DC (Chaihu)-Paeonia lactiflora Pall (Baishao) is one of the most accepted herb pairs in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) prescriptions for treating depression. However, the combination mechanisms of this herb pair for anti-depression remain unclear. MATERIALS AND METHODS In this study, the combined effect of Chaihu-Baishao was evaluated by the chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) rat model. Secondly, network pharmacology was constructed to dissect the united mechanisms. Based on the results of network pharmacology analysis, plasma metabolomics based on ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography combined with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-QTOF/MS) was performed to discover the collaborative effect on metabolite regulation. Furthermore, the targets from network pharmacology and the metabolites from metabolomics were jointly analyzed to select crucial metabolism pathways by MetaScape. Finally, the key metabolic enzymes and metabolites were experimentally validated by ELISA. RESULTS The antidepressant effect of Chaihu-Baishao herb pair was significantly better than Chaihu or Baishao in sucrose preference test (SPT), open-field test (OFT), and forced swim test (FST). In network pharmacology, herb pair played synergetic effect through regulating shared pathways, such as MAPK signaling pathway and arachidonic acid metabolism, etc. Besides, by metabolomics, the herb pair improved more metabolites (14) than a single herb (10 & 9) and has a stronger regulation effect on metabolites. Correspondingly, herb pair adjusted more metabolism pathways (5) than individual herb (4 & 4). Furthermore, the arachidonic acid metabolism was selected as crucial metabolism pathways by a joint analysis of 199 targets and 14 metabolites. The results showed that herb pair regulated arachidonic acid metabolism by synergetic reducing the level of arachidonic acid, and inhibiting the enzyme activity of prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 1 (PTGS1) and prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2 (PTGS2). CONCLUSIONS This work provided an integrated strategy for revealing the combination mechanisms of Chaihu-Baishao herb pair for treating depression, and also a rational way for clarifying the composition rules of TCM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Li
- Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, China; Shanxi Key Laboratory of Active Constituents Research and Utilization of TCM, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, China.
| | - Xue-Mei Qin
- Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, China; Shanxi Key Laboratory of Active Constituents Research and Utilization of TCM, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, China.
| | - Jun-Sheng Tian
- Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, China; Shanxi Key Laboratory of Active Constituents Research and Utilization of TCM, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, China.
| | - Xiao-Xia Gao
- Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, China; Shanxi Key Laboratory of Active Constituents Research and Utilization of TCM, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, China.
| | - Guan-Hua Du
- Institute of Material Medical, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
| | - Yu-Zhi Zhou
- Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, China; Shanxi Key Laboratory of Active Constituents Research and Utilization of TCM, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, China.
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