Integrated approach of network pharmacology and chemometrics for quality control of Chinese patent medicine:A case study on Huo-Luo-San

Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)has garnered significant global interest owing to its multi-component and multi-target theoretical framework and extensive therapeutic efficacy.However,the identification of quality markers(Q-markers)remains a formidable challenge in TCM.Hence,this study aimed to integrate network pharmacology and chemometrics to identify Q-markers in Chinese patent medicine,with a focus on Huo-Luo-San(HLS)as a case study.HLS,a widely used powdered Chinese patent medicine in China,comprises a complex formula of 10 herbs,initially formulated during the Qing dynasty for treating fractures.Initially,13 components,chlorogenic acid,typhaneoside,isorhamnetin-3-O-neohesperidoside,cynaroside,notoginsenoside R_1,ginsenoside Rg_1,baicalin,berberine hydrochloride,ginsenoside Rb_1,dehydrocostus lactone,dioscin,imperatorin,and costunolide,were selected as phytochemical markers for each herb based on the Chinese Pharmacopoeia(2020 version),forming the“Herbs-Compounds-targets”network of HLS using network pharmacology.Subsequently,employing network pharmacology,the 13 HLS components were quantified using UPLC-QqQ-MS.Chromatographic conditions were optimized on a Waters Cortecs C_(18)column(2.1 mm×100 mm,1.6μm)with a gradient elution comprising 0.1%formic acid in water and acetonitrile.Analyte detection was performed in the multiple-reaction monitoring mode,and the method underwent validation for linearity,detection limit,precision,repeatability,stability,and accuracy.The validated method was then utilized to analyze the 13 components in 15 batches of HLS samples.Chemometric techniques,including hierarchical cluster analysis,principal component analysis,orthogonal partial least squares projection discriminant analysis,and box map analyses,were subsequently employed to identify the Q-markers.Ultimately,six components,baicalin,notoginsenoside R_1,berberine hydrochloride,dioscin,imperatorin,and chlorogenic acid,were selected as Q-markers for HLS.The integration of network pharmacology with chemometrics represented a novel approach for selecting Q-markers in Chinese patent medicine.

Analysis of human infectious avian influenza virus:Hemagglutinin genetic characteristics in Asia and Africa from 2004 to 2009

In the present study,we used nucleotide and protein sequences of avian influenza virus H5N1,which were obtained in Asia and Africa,analyzed HA proteins using ClustalX1.83 and MEGA4.0,and built a genetic evolutionary tree of HA nucleotides.The analysis revealed that the receptor specificity amino acid of A/HK/213/2003,A/Turkey/65596/2006 and etc mutated into QNG,which could bind withá-2,3 galactose andá-2,6 galactose.A mutation might thus take place and lead to an outbreak of human infections of avian influenza virus.The mutations of HA protein amino acids from 2004 to 2009 coincided with human infections provided by the World Health Organization,indicating a“low–high–highest–high–low”pattern.We also found out that virus strains in Asia are from different origins:strains from Southeast Asia and East Asia are of the same origin,whereas those from West Asia,South Asia and Africa descend from one ancestor.The composition of the phylogenetic tree and mutations of key site amino acids in HA proteins reflected the fact that the majority of strains are regional and long term,and virus diffusions exist between China,Laos,Malaysia,Indonesia,Azerbaijan,Turkey and Iraq.We would advise that pertinent vaccines be developed and due attention be paid to the spread of viruses between neighboring countries and the dangers of virus mutation and evolution.