Exploring the mechanism of action of herb pair Pinellia Ternata-Magnolia Officinalis in the treatment of liver cancer based on network pharmacology and molecular docking

Background:Explore the anti-tumor mechanism of herb pair Pinellia ternate-Magnolia officinalis(BX-HP)in liver cancer through network pharmacology using molecular docking methods.Method:The active ingredients and corresponding targets of the herb pair Pinellia ternate-Magnolia officinalis were obtained from the HERB database.The relevant targets for liver cancer were obtained from GeneCards,DisGeNET,TTD,and Drugbank databases.Obtain common targets between herb pair Pinellia ternate-Magnolia officinalis and liver cancer through the Bioinformatics platform,establish a PPI network diagram using STRING software,and perform GO functional enrichment and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis on the DAVID platform.AutoDockTools 1.5.7 software and molecular dynamics simulation analysis are used to evaluate the binding of components to target proteins.HERB database,SwissTargetPrediction database,SwissADME database,UniProt database,GeneCards database,TTD database,DRUGBANK database,DisGeNET database,String,DAVID.Bioinformatics platform,PDB database,PubChem and TCMSP database.Result:A total of 22 active ingredients with a Probability>0.1 targets in Magnolia officinalis were screened,26 active ingredients with a Probability>0.1 targets in Pinellia ternata,ten vital active ingredients,corresponding to 979 and 803 targets with a Probability>0.1 targets,2536 liver cancer-related targets,and 279 targets in the herb pair Pinellia ternata-Magnolia officinalis.The GO functional enrichment analysis resulted in 1297 entries,namely 971 biological process entries,118 cell localization entries,and 208 molecular function entries.Three signaling pathways were annotated through the KEGG pathway.Based on molecular docking,ten vital active ingredients and five target proteins were validated to exhibit an excellent binding affinity.The above data indicates that combining the herb pair Pinellia ternata-Magnolia officinalis may treat liver cancer through specific targets and signaling pathways.Conclusion:Herb pair Pinellia ternata-Magnolia officinalis has a synergistic effect on treating liver cancer through multicomponent,multitarget,and multi-pathway approaches.This study provides a sufficient theoretical basis for subsequent research.

“Astragali Radix−Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix Et Rhizoma”herb pair in the treatment of liver cirrhosis and its pharmacological mechanisms

Objective:Liver cirrhosis is a disease that seriously damages human health.Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM)formulae have a good therapeutic effect on cirrhosis,and the herb pair is the smallest unit in formula compatibility,which is important for improving the therapeutic effect.Therefore,identifying core herb pairs among TCM formulae is key.Methods:We mined the data of TCM formulae for the treatment of cirrhosis in the China National Intellectual Property Administration for the first time and analyzed their herb characteristics and association rules.We screened 405 patented TCM formulae,including 953 herbs.Based on frequency statistics and association rules,we determined“Astragali Radix-Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix Et Rhizoma”as the core herb pair.Results:Six active compounds,Isorhamnetin,Formononetin,Calycosin,Cryptotanshinone,Dihydrotanshinone I,and Tanshinone II A,were screened out based on previous studies and network pharmacology.We found that SRC,TP53,HSP90AA1,MAPK3,MAPK1,and STAT3 played pivotal roles in treating cirrhosis.Interestingly,molecular docking indicated that MAPK3 might be a potential pharmacological target for cirrhosis.Conclusion:We preliminarily predicted and verified the pharmacological and molecular mechanism of“Astragali Radix-Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix Et Rhizoma”in treating cirrhosis.This can expand the scope of TCM in the treatment of cirrhosis,guide people to use clinical formulae,and provide valuable insights for further drug discovery studies.

Research on Herb Pairs of Classical Formulae of ZHANG ZhongJing Using Big Data Technology

Objective To analyze various herbal combinations in Treatise on Exogenous Febrile Diseases(Shang Han Lun,《伤寒论》)and Synopsis of Prescriptions of the Golden Chamber(Jin Gui Yao Lve,《金匮要略》),seeking to identify fundamental rules dictating the selection of herbal combinations through probability models and big data technology.Methods A total of 252 formulae were collected from Treatise on Exogenous Febrile Diseases(Shang Han Lun,《伤寒论》)and Synopsis of Prescriptions of the Golden Chamber(Jin Gui Yao Lve,《金匮要略》)by ZHANG Zhong-Jing.Formulae were then preprocessed with all herb names standardized.The concepts of candidate herb pair and candidate herb pair probability were proposed to analyze the rules of combinations in classical formulae based on probability statistics.MapReduce parallel computing framework of distributed big data technology was adopted to analyze large data samples combined with inverted index algorithm.Results The results showed that the core herbs were Glycyrrhizae Radix Rhizoma(Gan Cao,甘草),Cinnamomi Ramulus(Gui Zhi,桂枝),Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens(Sheng Jiang,生姜),Jujubae Fructus(Da Zao,大枣),Paeoniae Radix Alba(Bai Shao,白芍),etc.43 high-frequency pairs co-occurring 10 times or above were extracted,and 35 of these combinations were recognized as traditional herb pairs,such as Cinnamomi Ramulus(Gui Zhi,桂枝)-Glycyrrhizae Radix Rhizoma(Gan Cao,甘草),Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens(Sheng Jiang,生姜)-Jujubae Fructus(Da Zao,大枣),and Cinnamomi Ramulus(Gui Zhi,桂枝)-Ginseng Radix Et Rhizoma(Ren Shen,人参).The other 8 pairs of combinations,such as Paeoniae Radix Alba(Bai Shao,白芍)-Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens(Sheng Jiang,生姜),Paeoniae Radix Alba(Bai Shao,白芍)-Jujubae Fructus(Da Zao,大枣),and Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens(Sheng Jiang,生姜)-Ginseng Radix Et Rhizoma(Ren Shen,人参),were not defined traditionally,but in connection with commonly used herbs.Classical formulae took the core herbs as principles,focusing on tonifying deficiency,strengthening the spleen and the stomach,strengthening the healthy Qi,and eliminating pathogenic factors.The compatibility pattern of properties involved was mainly acrid and sweet,which reflected the compatibility laws of benefiting Qi and tonifying Yang,replenishing Qi and nourishing blood,etc.Conclusions The research of classical formulae provides common understanding of some basic rules that have been adopted to tackle common illnesses/diseases using herbal medicine.The results help to reinforce theoretical understanding and development of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM),and revealing the hidden rules of combination in TCM data.Analyzing wider data samples of various herbal combinations through computation and big data technology can further optimize the use of TCM.

Network Pharmacology-based Analysis of the Mechanism of Action of the Herb Pair Chai Hu-Bai Shao

Objective To analyze the mechanism of action and compatibility of the active compounds of the traditional herb pair Bupleuri Radix(Chai Hu,CH,柴胡)-Paeoniae Radix Alba(Bai Shao,BS,白芍).Methods All chemical compounds related to CH and BS were retrieved from the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform(TCMSP),Traditional Chinese Medicine Integrated Database(TCMID),Bioinformatics Analysis Tool for Molecular mechANism of Traditional Chinese Medicine(Batman-TCM),Traditional Chinese Medicine Database@Taiwan(TCM Database@Taiwan),and the literature.Relevant compounds were screened for oral bioavailability(OB),drug-likeness(DL),and the Caco-2 cell model.The Uniprot,Genecard,and CTD databases were used to obtain information on potential targets and diseases of associated compounds.Based on this,Cytoscape 3.2.1 software,GO enrichment analysis,and KEGG pathway enrichment were used to analyze the potential mechanism of action and pathways of the CH-BS drug combination.Results A total of 23 active compounds of CH and BS were indentified after meeting specific criteria by network pharmacology,showing 79 predicted targets of active compounds.Among them,all targets were associated with 344 diseases,and the compounds in CH and BS were connected to 94 pathways and biological,such as calcium signaling pathway,neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction and TNF signaling pathway.Conclusions Our results preliminarily validated the main compounds in CH-BS herb pair interacted with multiple targets in different diseases,and the molecular mechanism of these compounds involves multiple pathways,thereby establishing a good foundation for further studies.

Mechanism of Magnoliae Flos and Xanthii Fructus herb pair in treatment of allergic rhinitis based on network pharmacology

Objective: To explore the molecular mechanism of Magnoliae Flos and Xanthii Fructus herb pair for allergic rhinitis based on network pharmacology. Methods: From the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology database, Uniprot database, and Gene Cards database, the relevant chemical constituents information, pharmacokinetic information and hub target of allergic rhinitis were obtained. The protein-protein interaction network was constructed by STRING online database, analyzed and showed by the Cytoscape software. The screened target information was analyzed by the Metascape database for Gene Ontology biological function and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment analysis. Results: Main components of Magnoliae Flos and Xanthii Fructus herb pair, such as aloe-emodin, stigmasterol, beta-sitosterol and Yangambin, depend on the interaction of Nitric Oxide Synthase 3, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Caspase-3 and other functions involve G protein-coupled (amine) receptor activity, RNA polymerase II basic transcription factor binding, protease binding, heme binding, and integrin binding;can regulate calcium signal pathway, serotonergic synapse, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes signal pathway, tryptophan inflammatory mediator regulation pathway, estrogen signal pathway alone or in combination, and play a role in the treatment of allergic rhinitis. Conclusion: Magnoliae Flos combined with Xanthii Fructus can regulate biomolecular network in multiple targets and pathways to treat allergic rhinitis.

Professor Chen Xianhai's experience of herb pairs in the treatment of pulmonary diseases

According to the theory of traditional Chinese medicine,based on the four properties and five flavors of traditional Chinese medicines,the lifting and lowering theory and channel tropism,Professor Chen combined with the theory of traditional Chinese medicine and constitution identification to prescribe for patients and used herb pairs to treat many kinds of pulmonary diseases.And he has achieved good clinical effect by"treatment methods selection according to syndromes".His experience in medication and compatibility mechanism are worthy of further exploration and promotion by scholars.

Antipyretic Effect of Herba Ephedrae-Ramulus Cinnamomi Herb Pair on Yeast-Induced Pyrexia Rats: A Metabolomics Study

Objective： To investigate the antipyretic mechanism of Herba Ephedrae （Eph）-Ramulus Cinnamomi （RC） herb pair on yeast-induced pyrexia in rats. Methods： Totally 30 qualified male SD rats were randomly assigned to the normal control （NC） group, the pyrexia model （model） group, the Eph, RC and Eph-RC treatment groups by a random digital table, 6 rats in each group. Each rat received a 20% aqueous suspension of yeast （10 mL/kg） except the NC group. The 3 treatment groups were administered 8.1, 5.4 and 13.5 g/kg Eph, RC and Eph-RC respectively at 5 and 12 h after yeast injection, the NC group and the model groups were administered equal volume of distilled water. Rectal temperatures were measured at 0, 6, 8, 10, 12, 15, 18, 24 and 30 h and urine was collected prior to yeast injection and at 6, 10, 18, 24, 30, and 36 h after yeast injection. Then urine metabolomic profiling by gas chromatography tandem mass spectrometry, coupled with multivariate statistical analysis and pattern recognition techniques were used to explore the antipyretic effects of Eph-RC. Partial least squares discriminate analysis was used to analyze the metabolomics dataset including classification and regression in metabolomics plot profiling. Results： Compared with the NC group, rectal temperatures were significantly higher in the model group （P〈0.01）, while 3 treatment groups decreased significantly compared with the model group （P〈0.05 or P〈0.01）. Rectal temperatures of Eph-RC-treated rats started to go down at 6 h, and markedly decreased at 8, 12, 15, 18 and 24 h （P〈0.05 or P〈0.01）, while those of the Eph and RC groups had decreased firstly at 8 h and were markedly lower at 12 h （P〈0.05 or P〈0.01）. Seventeen potential biomarkers related to pyrexia were confirmed and identified, including pyruvic acid, L-phenylalanine, L-tyrosine, phenylacetic acid, hippuric acid, succinic acid, citrate and so on. Eight potential alterations of metabolic pathways including phenylalanine metabolism, citrate cycle, tryptophan metabolism, biosynthesis of valine, leucine and isoleucine, were identified in relation to the antipyretic effects of Eph-RC using MetPA software. Conclusion： The antipyretic effect of Eph-RC herb pair on yeast-induced pyrexia in rats involved correction of perturbed amino acid, fatty acid, and carbohydrate metabolism according to the metabolic pathway analysis with MetPA.

UPLC-Q-TOF/MS-based Metabolic Profiles of Bioactive Components in Rehmannia glutinosa and Cornus officinalis Herb Pair by Rat Intestinal Bacteria

Objective To investigate the metabolic routes and metabolites of Rehmannia glutinosa and Cornus officinalis herb pair produced by gut microbiome from rats.Methods A rapid and sensitive ultra-performance liquid chromatography/quadrupole-time-offlight mass spectrometry（UPLC-Q-TOF/MS） technique combined with Metabolynx？software was established and successfully applied to identify the metabolites of the main bioactive components in the herb pair extract by rat intestinal bacteria.Results Four parent compounds（loganin,morroniside,catalpol,and acteoside） and their eight corresponding metabolites were detected and tentatively identified by the characteristics of their protonated ions.Hydrogenated and demethylated loganetin,dehydroxylated morronisid aglycone,caffeic acid,and its methylated product were the main metabolites.These metabolites suggested that the glycosides were firstly hydrolyzed to their aglycones by hydrolytic enzymes of the enteric microbial flora and subsequently to the other metabolites through hydrogenation,（de）-methylation,and de-hydroxylation.Conclusion The results may be helpful for the further investigation of the pharmacokinetic study of R.glutinosa and C.officinalis herb pair in vivo.

Efficacy of Qiancao(Radix Rubiae Cordifoliae) and Haipiaoxiao(Endoconcha Sepiellae), a traditional Chinese herb pair, on abnormal uterine bleeding in rats with incomplete abortion

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the most effective weight ratio of Qiancao(Radix Rubiae Cordifoliae) and Haipiaoxiao(Endoconcha Sepiellae) used to produce decoction for the treatment of abnormal uterine bleeding(AUB) in rats with incomplete abortion, and to study the possible mechanism. METHODS: The models of AUB were established by incomplete drug abortion with mifepristone and misoprostol in pregnant rats. The therapeutic effects of decoctions made by eight different weight ratios of Qiancao(Radix Rubiae Cordifoliae) and Haipiaoxiao(Endoconcha Sepiellae) were observed. RESULTS: Statistical analysis revealed that the most effective weight ratio of Qiancao(Radix Rubiae Cordifoliae) and Haipiaoxiao(Endoconcha Sepiellae) to treat AUB in this study was 2∶1. CONCLUSION: The insights gained from this study would improve understanding of the mechanisms involved in the effect of Qiancao(Radix Rubiae Cordifoliae) and Haipiaoxiao(Endoconcha Sepiellae) on AUB.

Herb-herb interaction in traditional Chinese medicine：a review of pharmacokinetics-based interaction in Herb-Pairs

"Herb-Pairs",also known as pair drugs,refers to a prescription consisted of two relatively fixed traditional Chinese medicine,is the most basic,most simple and most common form of medication prescription in traditional Chinese medicine compound compatibility.It is not a random combination of two herbs,nor is the simple accumulation of efficacy,but the simple and delicate experience of ancient Chinese medicine practitioners.As a bridge between single drug and prescriptions,it is the embodiment of the regular and dialectical connotation.Therefore,research on Herb-Pairs has always been the most basic and most important entry point for compound compatibility studies.However,the interaction between herbs and herbs is an effect with a downside as well as benefits.The beneficial herb-herb interaction in Herb-Pairs include mutual promotion,mutual enhancement,mutual restraint between two drugs and counteract toxicity of another drug.And the harmful herb-herb interaction in Herb-Pairs includes mutual inhibition and antagonism.Al of these interactions areby means of affecting the metabolism of components to play a therapeutic effect.Using the pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic(PK-PD)binding model,the combination of drug metabolism and pharmacodynamics can further elucidate the influence on effect caused by drug concentration and metabolism,which can help elucidate the mechanism of drug action.Consequently,in this review,the herb-herb interactions in terms of pharmacokinetic were summarized to elucidate rule of TCM compatibility.

Network pharmacology and subsequent experimental validation reveal the synergistic myocardial protection mechanism of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bge.and Carthamus tinctorius L.

Objective:To reveal the molecular mechanism underlying the compatibility of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bge(S.miltiorrhiza,Dan Shen)and C.tinctorius L.(C.tinctorius,Hong Hua)as an herb pair through network pharmacology and subsequent experimental validation.Methods:Network pharmacology was applied to construct an active ingredient-efficacy target-disease protein network to reveal the unique regulation pattern of s.miltiorrhiza and C.tinctorius as herb pair.Molecular docking was used to verify the binding of the components of these herbs and their potential targets.An H9c2 glucose hypoxia model was used to evaluate the efficacy of the components and their synergistic effects,which were evaluated using the combination index.Western blot was performed to detect the protein expression of these targets.Results:Network pharmacology analysis revealed 5 pathways and 8 core targets of s.miltiorrhiza and C.tinctorius in myocardial protection.Five of the core targets were enriched in the hypoxia-inducible factor-1(HIF-1)signaling pathway.S.miltiorrhiza-C.tinctorius achieved vascular tone mainly by regulating the target genes of the HIF-1 pathway.As an upstream gene of the HIF-1 pathway,STAT3 can be activated by the active ingredients cryptotanshinone(Ctan),salvianolic acid B(Sal.B),and myricetin(Myric).Cell experiments revealed that Myric,Sal.B,and Ctan also exhibited synergistic myocardial protective activity.Molecular docking verified the strong binding of Myric,Sal.B,and Ctan to STAT3.Western blot further showed that the active ingredients synergistically upregulated the protein expressionof STAT3.Conclusion:The pharmacodynamic transmission analysis revealed that the active ingredients of S.miltiorrhiza and C.tinctorius can synergistically resist ischemia through various targets and pathways.This study provides a methodological reference for interpreting traditional Chinese medicine compatibility.

7576张含丹参-当归药对的门诊中药饮片处方回顾性分析

目的:了解江苏省中西医结合医院南部院区/南京市溧水区中医院(以下简称“该院”)含丹参-当归药对的门诊中药饮片处方情况,探究该药对的临床配伍应用规律,为该药对的合理使用提供参考。方法:采用回顾性分析方法,统计2020—2022年该院使用丹参-当归药对的7576张门诊中药饮片处方,对患者的性别、年龄、处方药味数、金额、疗程、涉及科室及病症、使用剂量、常用的配伍比例及配伍饮片等相关内容进行统计分析。结果:7576张含丹参-当归药对的门诊中药饮片处方中,女性患者处方数约为男性患者处方数的3.21倍(5776张vs.1800张),>30~40岁患者居多。单张处方的中药饮片味数多集中在16~20味,开具的疗程均<30 d。丹参的使用剂量为《中华人民共和国药典》规定的10~15 g的处方有6490张,占85.67%;当归的使用剂量为《中华人民共和国药典》规定的6~12 g的处方有6608张,占87.22%。处方数排序居前3位的科室依次为国医堂、妇科及脑病科,治疗的病证以冲任失调、心脾两虚及气滞血瘀证为主。单张处方中丹参用量大于等于当归用量,丹参与当归的配伍比例以1∶1为多,高频配伍饮片为茯苓、川芎、炒白芍。结论:基于处方用药分析,该院含丹参-当归药对的门诊中药饮片处方基本合理,为丹参-当归药对的使用剂量范围及配伍规律研究提供了数据支持,有利于促进临床合理用药。

基于人脐静脉内皮细胞的OGD/R模型研究当归-川芎药对中7个活性成分对VEGF-PI3K-AKT/NF-κB信号通路的影响

目的探讨当归-川芎药对中7个活性成分(绿原酸、阿魏酸、咖啡酸、丁烯基苯酞、洋川芎内酯H、洋川芎内酯A、藁本内酯)对VEGF-PI3K-AKT/NF-κB信号通路关键蛋白及其上下游血管活性物质、黏附因子和炎症因子的调控作用。方法构建人脐静脉内皮细胞(HUVEC)的氧糖剥夺/复氧(OGD/R)模型,采用细胞增殖试剂盒(CCK-8法)检测细胞活力,探索7个成分的最佳造模时间;通过检测乳酸脱氢酶(LDH)释放探索最佳给药浓度;采用酶联免疫吸附法(ELISA)检测7个成分对VEGF、VCAM-1、PAI-1、NF-κB、IL-1和IL-6表达的影响;采用逆转录-聚合酶链式反应(RT-PCR)法检测7个成分对VEGF-PI3K-AKT/NF-κB信号通路关键蛋白mRNA表达的影响。结果HUVEC氧糖剥夺6 h再复氧为最佳造模时间。高剂量绿原酸组、阿魏酸组、洋川芎内酯H组,低、中剂量丁烯基苯酞组,中、高剂量洋川芎内酯A、藁本内酯组显著降低LDH漏出率(P<0.05,P<0.01);绿原酸、阿魏酸、洋川芎内酯H部分剂量组细胞中VEGF、ICAM-1、VCAM-1的表达显著降低,绿原酸、阿魏酸、洋川芎内酯H、藁本内酯部分剂量组细胞NF-κB的表达显著下降,绿原酸、咖啡酸、丁烯基苯酞、洋川芎内酯H、洋川芎内酯A部分剂量组细胞中IL-6的表达显著增加,绿原酸、阿魏酸、洋川芎内酯A部分剂量组细胞IL-1表达显著减少,阿魏酸、洋川芎内酯H部分剂量组细胞中PAI-1的表达量显著下降(P<0.05,P<0.01);绿原酸、阿魏酸、咖啡酸、丁烯基苯酞和洋川芎内酯A部分剂量组细胞中ERK、VEGF、NF-κB、VEGFR2和MMP9的mRNA相对表达量显著下调,洋川芎内酯H和洋川芎内酯A部分剂量组细胞中AKT的mRNA相对表达量均显著上调(P<0.05,P<0.01)。结论当归-川芎中的药效成分可能通过抑制黏附因子、炎症因子和VEGF-PI3K-AKT/NF-κB信号通路关键蛋白mRNA的表达,从而发挥抗缺血性中风的作用。

黄芪和鬼箭羽对药治疗糖尿病周围神经病变临床经验探析

黄芪、鬼箭羽是杨晓晖教授治疗糖尿病周围神经病变(DPN)的常用对药。本文通过对古代中医文献及现代药理研究的梳理,探讨黄芪、鬼箭羽对药治疗DPN的配伍特点和临床应用,认为二者具有气血同调、表里同治、寒温同用的功效,契合DPN“麻是气虚,木是痰湿死血”“微型癥瘕”的病机特点,是杨晓晖教授“三同理论”防治糖尿病并发症的具体体现,临床效果显著,值得进一步探索研究。

柴胡-白芍配伍抗抑郁药理作用机制研究进展

抑郁症是一种常见的精神障碍,严重影响患者生存质量。目前临床西药治疗抑郁症效果不理想,需寻求新的抗抑郁药物及靶点。柴胡-白芍作为抗抑郁复方的核心和重要组成部分,两者配伍使用具有减毒增效抗抑郁作用,其机制可能与抑制炎症与氧化应激、调节单胺类神经递质、脑源性神经营养因子水平,影响下丘脑-垂体-肾上腺轴、多种氨基酸代谢和能量代谢等有关。本文通过综述柴胡-白芍配伍的协同效应以及抗抑郁药理作用,以期为阐明柴胡-白芍的配伍优势以及抗抑郁的作用机制提供参考。

知母-黄柏药对改善D-半乳糖诱导衰老小鼠认知障碍的机制研究

目的:研究知母-黄柏药对(简称“知柏”)对D-半乳糖(D-gal)诱导衰老模型小鼠认知障碍的改善作用,并探讨其作用机制。方法:将75只C57BL/6J小鼠随机分为空白组、模型组(D-gal 125 mg/kg)、吡拉西坦组(468 mg/kg)、知柏组(4.5 g/kg)和雷帕霉素哺乳靶蛋白(mTOR)抑制剂组(依维莫司,RAD001,3mg/kg),每组15只。通过D-gal建立小鼠衰老模型,并连续8周灌胃给予知柏水煎液。采用Morris水迷宫和新物体识别测试评价衰老模型小鼠的认知功能;HE染色法观察各组小鼠海马组织病理变化情况;尼氏染色和高尔基染色观察海马区神经元和突触的病理形态变化;收集海马组织以测定脑内三磷酸腺苷(ATP)含量,Western Blot法检测海马中泛素结合蛋白62(P62)、肌球蛋白样BCL2结合蛋白(Beclin-1)、突触素(Syn)、突触后密度蛋白-95(PSD-95)、腺苷酸活化蛋白激酶(AMPK)、mTOR的蛋白表达水平;实时荧光定量PCR(qRT-PCR)法检测海马中Syn、AMPK、mTOR基因表达水平。结果:与空白组相比,模型组小鼠在Morris水迷宫和新物体识别测试中表现出认知功能显著降低(P<0.01)。在模型组中,海马区的细胞数量减少,细胞排列松散,神经元形态不规则,尼氏小体数量明显减少,树突分支数量以及树突棘密度也显著减少。模型组小鼠海马中ATP水平、P62、Syn、PSD-95、mTOR蛋白表达显著降低(P<0.01),Beclin-1表达显著升高(P<0.01),pAMPK/AMPK蛋白含量比值和AMPK基因表达显著升高(P<0.01),Syn和mTOR基因表达显著降低(P<0.01)。与模型组相比,吡拉西坦组和知柏组小鼠的认知功能得到了显著改善,表现为Morris水迷宫测试中潜伏期的显著缩短(P<0.01),穿越平台次数和靶象限停留时间显著增加(P<0.01),以及新物体识别指数的显著升高(P<0.01),海马区树突棘密度显著增加(P<0.01),神经元损伤也在一定程度上得到了缓解。海马中ATP水平、P62、Syn、PSD-95和mTOR蛋白表达显著升高(P<0.01,P<0.05),Beclin-1蛋白表达显著降低(P<0.01),pAMPK/AMPK蛋白含量比值和AMPK基因表达显著降低(P<0.01,P<0.05),Syn、mTOR基因表达显著升高(P<0.01)。抑制剂RAD001组与模型组结果相似,经知柏治疗后上述指标均有所回调。结论:知柏可能通过激活AMPK/mTOR信号通路抑制神经元过度自噬,增强突触可塑性,改善由D-gal引起的小鼠认知障碍。

Box-Behnken响应面法优化“五味子-吴茱萸”药对的提取工艺及含量测定

目的:优化“五味子-吴茱萸”药对提取工艺并测定其不同配伍的化学成分含量。方法:利用Box-Behnken设计在单因素考察的基础上考察“五味子-吴茱萸”药对的提取工艺,确定最佳提取工艺,并通过高效液相色谱法测定“五味子-吴茱萸”的化学含量,确定药对的最佳比例。结果:“五味子-吴茱萸”药对最优提取工艺为乙醇体积分数70%,料液比1∶15(g/mL),提取时间60 min,提取次数3次。该提取工艺科学可靠。结论:本研究方法简单可行,可为“五味子-吴茱萸”药对的开发利用及相关研究提供参考。

基于UPLC-Q-Orbitrap-HRMS技术的葛根-丹参药对化学成分分析

目的采用超高效液相色谱-四极杆-静电场轨道阱高分辨质谱(UPLC-Q-Orbitrap-HRMS)技术分别对以水和50%甲醇溶液为溶剂提取的葛根-丹参药对样品进行化学成分分析。方法采用Thermo Scientific Hypersil GOLD C_(18)色谱柱(150 mm×2.1 mm,1.9μm),以0.1%甲酸水-0.1%甲酸乙腈溶液为流动相进行梯度洗脱,流速为0.3 mL·min^(-1),柱温为30℃。采用加热电喷雾离子源(H-ESI),正负离子检测模式。结果从水提和50%甲醇醇提样品溶液中均鉴定出104个化合物,其中103个化合物为共有成分,各有1个差异性成分,分别为水提样品中的刺槐苷与50%甲醇醇提样品中的降丹参酮(或其同分异构体)。共鉴定出的105个化合物,包括黄酮类成分36个、苯丙素类成分20个、萜类成分24个和其他类成分25个。结论本研究首次采用UPLC-Q-Orbitrap-HRMS技术对葛根-丹参药对的主要成分进行鉴定,可为葛根-丹参药对的药效成分研究提供科学依据。

液相色谱-质谱技术结合网络药理学研究附子-葶苈子药对的抗心力衰竭作用机制

采用超高效液相色谱-四极杆-飞行时间串联质谱(UPLC-Q TOF MS^(E))技术,结合UNIFI软件对附子-葶苈子药对水煎液中的化学成分进行分析鉴定。首先,在UPLC-Q TOF MS^(E)正、负离子模式下采集质谱数据,使用UNIFI软件对化合物精确相对分子质量和串联质谱数据进行辅助解析,结合对照品的质谱信息及相关参考文献,从附子-葶苈子共煎液中共鉴定出142个化合物。以这些成分为候选化合物,采用网络药理学方法,构建了“药物-成分-靶点”关键网络,筛选出附子-葶苈子药对治疗心力衰竭的10个关键靶点,分别为BCL2、IL6、STAT3、CASP3、PPARG、ESR1、EGFR、AKT1、MMP9、PTGS2,它们主要参与调控糖尿病并发症中的AGE-RAGE信号通路、表皮生长因子受体信号通路以及缺氧诱导因子信号通路等;活性成分包括水黄皮素、山柰酚、异鼠李素等黄酮类和惰碱、德尔妥因等生物碱类以及穿心莲内酯类化合物。该研究揭示了附子-葶苈子配伍抗心力衰竭的潜在作用机制,为该药对的临床应用提供了科学依据。

基于血清药物化学和网络药理学的知母-黄柏药对盐炙前后治疗2型糖尿病药效物质基础及作用机制分析

目的基于液质联用技术对生知母-生黄柏、盐知母-盐黄柏药对水提液灌胃给药后大鼠入血成分分析,结合网络药理学预测盐炙在知母-黄柏药对治疗2型糖尿病的影响,并通过体外实验进行初步验证。方法大鼠连续灌胃给药生知母-生黄柏药对、盐知母-盐黄柏药对水提液2次,中间间隔1 h,末次给药60 min后腹主动脉取血,用甲醇沉淀蛋白法处理后复溶,采用色谱柱Shim-pack GIST C 18(4.6 mm×150 mm,5μm);流动相A相为0.1%甲酸水,B相为0.1%甲酸-乙腈;梯度洗脱,正、负离子全扫描模式,质量扫描范围m/z 100~1500。结合数据库二级谱图及文献,分析鉴定生知母-生黄柏、盐知母-盐黄柏药对的入血成分。检索2型糖尿病疾病靶点,对入血成分和疾病的交集靶点进行蛋白质互作网络分析、GO、KEGG通路富集分析,构建“入血成分-靶点”网络图,运用AutoDock软件对筛选出的核心成分和核心靶点进行分子对接验证。验证实验以HepG2细胞为实验对象,胰岛素联合高糖诱导胰岛素抵抗模型,CCK8法检验盐炙前后知母-黄柏药对对细胞增殖影响,Western blot检测PI3K-AKT信号通路相关蛋白的表达情况。结果生知母-生黄柏药对水提液大鼠血清中鉴定出15种原型成分,1个芒果苷代谢成分。盐知母-盐黄柏药对水提液大鼠血清中鉴定出17个原型成分,1个芒果苷代谢成分。盐炙后入血成分中芒果苷、小檗碱、3-异丁基戊二酸等成分含量较生品高。KEGG和GO结果显示,知母-黄柏药对治疗2型糖尿病可能与RNA聚合酶的转录调控、炎症反应、AGE-RAGE、PI3K-AKT、胰岛素抵抗等通路有关。细胞实验表明盐炙前后知母-黄柏药对可以上调p-PI3K/PI3K、p-AKT/AKT、GLUT4蛋白表达,且盐炙组效果优于生品组。结论初步阐释了知母-黄柏药对盐炙前后入血成分,阿魏酸、小檗碱、小檗红碱、芒果苷与mTOR、SIRT1、EGFR、PPARA等可能是知母-黄柏药对盐炙后增强2型糖尿病治疗效果的主要成分和靶点,其机制可能是增强了PI3K-AKT等相关通路的作用,为知母-黄柏药对盐炙前后药效物质基础研究及临床应用提供重要参考。