Exploring the bioactive compounds of Feiduqing formula for the prevention and management of COVID-19 through network pharmacology and molecular docking

Background:To explore the effective chemical constituents of Feiduqing formula for prevention and treatment of coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19).Methods:The compounds and action targets of twelve herbal medicines in Feiduqing formula were collected via Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analytic Platform.The genes corresponding to the targets were queried through the UniProt database.The“herbal medicine-ingredient-target”network was established by Cytoscape software.The Gene Ontology function enrichment analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment analysis were performed by Database for Annotation,Visualization and Integrated Discovery.Molecular docking was used to analyze the binding force of core active compounds of Feiduqing formula with PTGS2,HSP90AA1,SARS-CoV-23CL hydrolase and angiotensin converting enzyme II(ACE2).Results:The“herbal medicine-ingredient-target”network included 434 nodes and 1948 edges,including 222 components such as quercetin,kaempferol,luteolin,etc.The key targets are PTGS2,HSP90AA1,PTGS1,ESR1,AR,NOS2,etc.Gene Ontology function enrichment analysis revealed 2530 items,including RNA polymerase II-specific,response to oxidative stress,transcription factor activity,etc.Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment screened 169 signal pathways,including Human cytomegalovirus infection,Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus infection,Hepatitis B,Hepatitis C,IL-17,TNF,etc.The results of molecular docking showed that quercetin,luteolin,β-sitosterol,stigmasterol and other core active compounds have a certain degree of affinity with PTGS2,HSP90AA1,SARS-CoV-23CL hydrolase and ACE2.Conclusion:The active compounds of Feiduqing formula may have a therapeutic effect on COVID-19 pneumonia through the action on PTGS2,HSP90AA1,SARS-CoV-23CL hydrolase and ACE2,and regulating many signaling pathways.

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.

Study on the molecular mechanism of Osmanthus fragrans Lour.on boosting immunity based on network pharmacology and molecular docking

Objective:To explore the molecular mechanism of Osmanthus Fragrans Lour.(OFL)in enhancing immunity.Methods:The compounds and action targets of OFL were collected from the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systematic Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform.Protein targets of compounds were obtained from the UniProt database and relevant targets of boosting immunity were retrieved from the Genecards database.The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment analysis and Gene Ontology function enrichment analysis were performed through the DAVID analysis website,Visualization and Integrated Discovery.Finally,the results of the network analysis were validated by performing molecular docking using AutoDock vina.Results:A total of 7 active compounds and 167 potential active targets were identified in OFL.A total of 1549 genes with a correlation score of≥1 were retrieved from the Genecards website with the keyword“boost immunity”,and 107 genes were obtained by crossing the 167 genes of OFL with the 1549 genes of boosting immunity.A total of 4802 entries were obtained from Gene Ontology functional enrichment(P<0.05).A total of 234 signaling pathways were obtained through a Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis(P<0.05).Tumor necrosis factor(TNF)and interleukin 17(IL-17)signaling pathways were closely related to body immunity.The molecular docking results showed that all the core compounds in OFL the characteristics including low energy,a stable structure and high binding activity when bound to IL-17 and TNF-αprotein.Kaempferol showed the highest affinity with IL-17,and fucosterol showed the highest affinity with TNF-α.Conclusions:Through studies on network pharmacology and molecular docking,we have further demonstrated that OFL could enhance the immunity of the body through multi-component,multi-target and multi-pathway actions,and that IL-17/TNF-αsignalling pathway is the key molecular mechanism.

A case of tiny foreign body hidden in the neck for 27 years

Neck trauma has the characteristics of diversity,complexity,and danger.Mild injuries generally require debridement and suturing or symptomatic treatment.In severe cases,acute laryngeal obstruction,subcutaneous emphysema,severe deformation and collapse of laryngeal and tracheal cartilage,or damage to adjacent organs may occur.If not diagnosed in a timely manner or mishandled,it can endanger the patient’s life or leave sequelae.If foreign body residue is caused by head and neck trauma,a reasonable judgment should be made based on the patient’s condition and corresponding measures should be taken.Accurate localization of foreign bodies before and during surgery,as well as appropriate surgical methods,are key to ensuring successful treatment.This article reports a case of a small foreign body in the neck admitted to Xianning Central Hospital at the end of January 2023.

Mechanism of Zixinyin oral liquid in the treatment of insomnia based on network pharmacology and molecular docking

Objective:To explore the molecular mechanism of Zixinyin oral liquid(ZOL)in the treatment of insomnia.Methods:The compounds and action targets of four herbal medicines in ZOL were collected via Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform.Genes corresponding to the targets were queried from the UniProt database.Genecards database was searched to screen the related targets of insomnia.A Gene Ontologyfunction enrichment analysis and a Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomespathway enrichment analysis were performed by Database for Annotation,Visualization and Integrated Discovery.AutoDock software was used for molecular docking to verify the results of network analysis.Results:A total of 47 effective compounds and 187 potential targets of ZOL were screened out from the four drugs.A total of 2592 disease targets were screened out from the genecards database,and there were 1576 genes whose relevance score≥0.5.46 genes were obtained by taking the intersection of 187 potential targets of ZOL and 1,576 targets of insomnia.A total of 3,405 entries were obtained from Gene Ontologyfunctional enrichment(P<0.05).A total of 195 signaling pathways were obtained through a Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomespathway analysis(P<0.05).Tumor necrosis factor,interleukin 17and hypoxia inducible factor-1signaling pathways were closely related to insomnia.The results of molecular docking show that all the core compounds of ZOL had a certain degree of affinity with gamma-aminobutyric acid receptor subunit alpha-1(GABRA1)and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α).Paeoniflorgenone shows the highest affinity with GABRA1,and beta-sitosterol shows the highest affinity withTNF-α.ZOLmay have a therapeutic effect on insomnia through its action on targets such as GABRA1 and TNF-α,meanwhile regulating many signaling pathways.