Reveal the pharmacodynamic substances and mechanism of an edible medicinal plant Rhodiola crenulate in DSS-induced colitis through plasma pharmacochemistry and metabolomics

Rhodiola crenulate is the edible medicinal herbal medicine widely used for altitude sickness in China.Interestingly,our previous work has found that R.crenulate extract(RCE)could significantly improve the pathology associated with dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis.Thus,the current research aims to reveal the pharmacodynamic material basis of RCE,as well as its mechanism against colitis.The chemical characterization of RCE was performed by UHPLC-HR-MS,through which a total of 88 constituents were identified.Meanwhile,our results also found 29 constituents absorbed into blood and 8 metabolized absorbable compounds.The decreased flavonoids prototype and the elevated sulfated products of phenols were observed under pathophysiological conditions of colitis.The metabolomics study revealed that colitis caused the alternation of fatty acid metabolism,steroid hormone biosynthesis and bile acid metabolism.Correspondingly,RCE could prevent colitis by improving fatty acid metabolism and secondary bile acid metabolism.

Material basis and pharmacodynamic mechanism of YangshenDingzhi granules in the intervention of viral pneumonia:Based on serum pharmacochemistry and network pharmacology

Background:YangshenDingzhi granules(YSDZ)are clinically effective in preventing and treating COVID-19.The present study elucidates the underlying mechanism of YSDZ intervention in viral pneumonia by employing serum pharmacochemistry and network pharmacology.Methods:The chemical constituents of YSDZ in the blood were examined using ultraperformance liquid chromatography-quadrupole/orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry(UPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap MS).Potential protein targets were obtained from the SwissTargetPrediction database,and the target genes associated with viral pneumonia were identified using GeneCards,DisGeNET,and Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man(OMIM)databases.The intersection of blood component-related targets and disease-related targets was determined using Venny 2.1.Protein-protein interaction networks were constructed using the STRING database.The Metascape database was employed to perform enrichment analyses of Gene Ontology(GO)functions and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)signaling pathways for the targets,while the Cytoscape 3.9.1 software was utilized to construct drug-component-disease-target-pathway networks.Further,in vitro and in vivo experiments were performed to establish the therapeutic effectiveness of YSDZ against viral pneumonia.Results:Fifteen compounds and 124 targets linked to viral pneumonia were detected in serum.Among these,MAPK1,MAPK3,AKT1,EGFR,and TNF play significant roles.In vitro tests revealed that the medicated serum suppressed the replication of H1N1,RSV,and SARS-CoV-2 replicon.Further,in vivo testing analysis shows that YSDZ decreases the viral load in the lungs of mice infected with RSV and H1N1.Conclusion:The chemical constituents of YSDZ in the blood may elicit therapeutic effects against viral pneumonia by targeting multiple proteins and pathways.

Chinmedomics: A Powerful Approach Integrating Metabolomics with Serum Pharmacochemistry to Evaluate the Efficacy of Traditional Chinese Medicine

Evaluation of the efficacy of traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) is an important prerequisite for discovering effective substances, lead compounds, and quality markers (Q markers). At present, there is an urgent need to develop a biological language that can act as abridge for the scientific elaboration of the efficacy of TCMs, and to further highlight the significant value of TCM. Chinese medicinal syndromes and formulae are two essential parts of TCM that directly relate to its efficacy. Syndromes and formulae have been taken as the research objects. The serum pharmacochemistry of the TCM approach with metabolomics were integrated to establish an innovative chinmedomics strategy, which is able to explore syndrome biomarkers and evaluate TCM efficacy in order to discover effective substances from TCMs. A great deal of concrete work in chinmedomics has already performed to bridge the gap between Chinese and Western medicine, and to provide a powerful approach to enhance the scientific value of TCM theory and clinical practice. This article summarizes the application of chinmedomics in identifying the candidate biomarkers of a syndrome and revealing the efficacy of the related formula. We also highlight the discovery of lead compounds and Q markers from TCMs.

Research Status of Serum Pharmacology and Serum Pharmacochemistry of Traditional Chinese Medicine

Serum pharmacochemistry of traditional Chinese medicine has become a more accurate and rapidly developing reasonable way to analyze the effective material basis of traditional Chinese medicine in recent years. Through this method, we can select very complex Chinese medicine components and clarify the effective substances consistent with the main functions, and then separate and purify effective ingredients in traditional Chinese medicine, so as to explain the material basis of the drug effect and prove the rationality and principle of action of Chinese medicine compounds. It can show the multi-component and multi-target characteristic of traditional Chinese medicine, and after analyzing the migrating components of serum, we can explore the direct effective substances that act on the patient’s body, so as to accelerate and accurately complete the in-depth study of the effective substances of Chinese medicine.

Deciphering the molecular mechanisms of Simiaowan in the treatment of hyperuricemia: in vivo and in silico approaches

Background:Simiaowan(SMW),a well-known traditional Chinese medicine,has been employed to treat hyperuricemia(HUA)and gout for centuries.However,the bioactive components and underlying mechanisms have not been elucidated.The objective of this study was to identify the active components and potential mechanisms of SMW by integrating pharmacological experimentation,serum pharmacochemistry,network pharmacology and molecular docking.Methods:HUA rats modelling by high-fat/high-sugar diet and potassium oxonate/adenine oral administration were used to evaluate the pharmacodynamic effects of SMW.UPLC-Q-Exactive-MS/MS was employed to detect the bioactive components present in SMW-containing serum.Network pharmacology and molecular docking were utilized to elucidate the potential targets and underlying mechanisms.Results:SMW effectively ameliorated HUA rats via the inhibition of uric acid(UA)production,promotion of UA excretion,improvement of lipid and glucose metabolic abnormalities,antioxidant,anti-inflammatory and anti-insulin resistance effects.A total of 73 compounds detected in SMW-containing serum were identified as potential active components,with alkaloids,flavonoids,organic acids,and terpenoids emerging as the primary active ingredients.Totally 203 corresponding targets were obtained as SMW anti-HUA/gout targets,which mainly participated in apoptosis,insulin resistance,TNF,PI3K-Akt,HIF-1,NF-κB,MAPK,IL-17 and TLR signaling pathways.Molecular docking indicated that active compounds(e.g.berberine,phellodendrine,quercetin,formononetin,ferulic acid)had superior binding abilities to the key targets(e.g.solute carrier family 22 member 12(URAT1),solute carrier family 22 member 6(OAT1),ATP-binding cassette sub-family G member 2(ABCG2),solute carrier family 2,facilitated glucose transporter member 9(GLUT9),xanthine dehydrogenase/oxidase(XDH),transcription factor p65(RELA),toll-like receptor 4(TLR4),prostaglandin G/H synthase 2(PTGS2),caspase-3(CASP3),insulin(INS)).Conclusion:SMW exerted regulatory influence over the disease network of HUA and gout through a multiplicity of components,targets,and pathways.Alkaloids,flavonoids,organic acids,and terpenoids were the primary active components,exerting anti-HUA/gout effects via antioxidant,anti-inflammatory,anti-insulin resistance,anti-apoptosis,inhibition of UA production,and promotion of UA excretion.This study revealed the active components and molecular mechanisms of SMW,providing insights into the development of natural products derived from SMW.

Pharmacochemical Aspects of the Evolution from Erythromycin to Neomacrolides, Ketolides and Neoketolides

Antibiotic macrolides are experiencing renewed interest in anti-infective therapy since the advent of ketolides. This therapeutic class was introduced in order to broaden the narrow antibacterial spectrum of macrolides and to cope with the emergence of germs resistant to Erythromycin A and its hemisynthetic derivatives or neomacrolides (Clarithromycin, Roxithromycin, Azithromycin, Dirithromycin). From a pharmacochemical point of view, ketolides were first of all obtained by operating chemical modulations on Erythromycin A to obtain the neomacrolides, then, by replacing the neutral sugar (L-cladinose) in C3 by a ketone function coupled with the creation of an oxazolidinone like heterocycle in C11 and C12 in place of the hydroxyls present in these positions (Telithromycin, Cethromycin, Solithromycin). These modulations have enabled the improvement of the chemical stability of ketolides in gastric acid medium and increase their affinity for the ribosomal target, hence the broadening of their spectrum of action towards Gram positive germs including strains resistant to other macrolides and to neomacrolides. Therefore, the objective of this systematic review is to report the various pharmacochemical aspects undertaken since 1952 in the macrolide series based on the structure of Erythromycin A. These aspects will focus on the pharmacomodulations that have led, year after year, to the optimization of stability, the improvement of the pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic profile and that have allowed the development of neomacrolides, ketolides and neoketolides, which are today essential in the management of severe bronchopulmonary infections.

Novel chinmedomics strategy for discovering effective constituents from ShenQiWan acting on ShenYangXu syndrome

Elucidation of the efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) is of importance for scientists of modern medicine to understand the value of TCM clinical experience, and it is necessary to have a biological language to scientifically describe the efficacy of TCM. With this background,Chinmedomics has been proposed by our team, which includes integrating serum pharmacochemistry and metabolomics technology, defining theory and research methods for expressing the efficacy of TCMs based on the biomarkers discovery of TCM syndrome and elucidating the efficacy of TCM formulae, discovering effective constituents, and finally elucidating the scientific value of TCM. In the present study, the innovative chinmedomics strategy was conducted to evaluate the therapeutic effects of Shen Qi Wan(SQW) acting on Shen Yang Xu(kidney-yang deficiency syndrome, KYDS). We analyzed the urine metabolic trajectory between the model and control groups, and identified the biomarkers by the multivariate analysis. We found that SQW caused significant restoration of abnormal metabolism of KYDs. Using the method of metabolomics, 17 potential urine biomarkers were analyzed through 4 repeated tests in our serial studies on SQW and KYDS. Under the premise of therapeutic efficacy, a total of 56 peaks were tentatively characterized in vivo by the use of serum pharmacochemistry. Correlation analysis between marker metabolites and in vivo constituents of SQW showed that 28 compositions had a close relationship with urine biomarkers of therapeutic effects, whichmight play a key role in the therapeutic effect of SQW. These compounds were imported into an online database to predict their targets. Twenty-three important potential targets were identified, which were related to the metabolism of steroid hormone, tryptophan utilization, and thyroid hormone. In conclusion, chinmedomics is a useful strategy for discovery of potentially effective constituents from complex TCM formulae.