Study on therapeutic targets networks of xuefu-zhuyu decoction and gualou-xiebai-banxia decoction for the treatment of coronary artery disease

Aim This work is to provide a network approach to identify the potential therapeutic targets in molecular level for xuefu-zhuyu decoction （XZD） and gualou-xiebai-banxia decoction （GXBD） in treating Coronary artery dis- ease （CAD）. Methods The networks between the ingredients/drugs and relevant target proteins for XZD, GXBD, and modern anti-CAD drugs were constructed, respectively. A master network based on the three established networks was further generated. By comparing the similarities and the differences of the targets containing in the master net- work between the individual formula and the modern drugs, the potential anti-CAD targets for XZD and GXBD were i- dentified for further pharmacological investigations. Results Although the herbal formulations and the chemical con- stituents of XZD and GXBD were significant different, both formulas presented the great similarity on target proteins and with the Tanimoto coefficient of 0. 7225. Comparison the formula-specific targets to modem drugs targets, 50 mu- tual targets with higher possibility were modulated. Moreover, a total amount of 114 mutual targets between formulas derived from the master network were identified to be not yet related to those of the approved anti-CAD drugs. Among them, the top 10 targets were identified to be NOS3, PTPN1, GABRA1, PRKACA, CDK2, MAOB, ESR1, ADH1C, ADH1B and AKR1B1. The formula-specific targets of XZD or GXBD which were not yet covered by the current anti- CAD drugs provided the potential opportunities to discovery of the new drug candidates from the two formulas for CAD treatment. Conclusion The established method of network analysis provides a novel approach for screening of the potential therapeutic targets based on the chemical constituents in traditional Chinese medicines or formulas. It is cru- cial for this work to select relatively favorable therapeutic areas of traditional Chinese medicines, syndrome-oriented formulas and syndrome differentiation of same diseases. Meanwhile, this kind of work is helpful for unveiling the mo- lecular mechanism of TCM formulas.