Danggui Shaoyao powder improves hepatic lipid metabolism in atherosclerosis mice via PPARγ-LXRα-ABCA1 pathway regulation

Objective:To observe the effects of Danggui Shaoyao powder(DSP)on hepatic lipid metabolism and further explore its mechanism of action by peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor(PPARγ)-liver X receptor(LXRα)-adenosine triphosphate(ATP)-binding cassette transporter A1(ABCA1)pathway regulation.Methods: Eight C57BL/6J male mice were selected as the control group,and 24 ApoE^(−/−)male mice were randomly divided into the atherosclerosis model(AS)group,atorvastatin calcium(AC)group,and DSP group(n=8 each group).To establish an AS model,ApoE^(−/−)mice were fed a high-fat diet for 16 weeks.Pathologic changes in the aortic vasculature and liver were identified using Oil Red O staining.Triglyceride(TG),cholesterol(TC),and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C)levels were determined in the livers using a single-reagent GPO-PAP method.Fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blot were used to observe and evaluate the mRNA and protein expression of the PPARγ-LXRα-ABCA1 intermediates in the liver.Results: After 16 weeks of a high-fat diet,ApoE^(−/−)mice showed more Oil Red O staining in the aorta and liver compared to the CONT group.Compared to the AS group,the DSP and AC treatment reduced aortic plaque and hepatic lipid deposition to varying degrees.Furthermore,DSP significantly reduced the hepatic lipid area in ApoE^(−/−)mice(P<.001)and decreased the levels of TG,TC,and LDL-C in liver(P<.001,P=.027,P<.001,respectively).DSP also significantly increased the levels of PPARγ,LXRα,ABCA1,and ABCG1 mRNA expression,as well as the PPARγ,LXRα,ABCA1,and ABCG1 protein expression in liver.Conclusion: DSP improved hepatic lipid metabolism via PPARγ-LXRα-ABCA1 pathway modulation for AS treatment.

Exploration of the potential mechanism of Danggui Shaoyao powder in the treatment of endometriosis based on bioinformatics

Background:Endometriosis is a hormone-and organ-dependent disease with unclear pathogenesis.Danggui Shaoyao powder(DSP)has been used for the treatment of endometriosis for many years and has been proven to be effective,but its underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear.In this study,we explored the molecular targets and pathways of DSP in the treatment of endometriosis mainly from the perspective of network pharmacology,and provided some novel ideas for managing this disease.Methods:In the present study,we focused on the underlying mechanisms between DPS and endometriosis,via oral bioavailability screening,drug similarity assessment,target identification,network analysis,drug relocation,and molecular docking using network pharmacology.Results:By bioinformatics,54 active components of DSP were predicted from the 534 components provided by the TCMSP database.We then found 85 validated targets and 6059 predicted targets for herbal components,and 2241 targets for endometriosis.After mapping,there were 255 targets in common.After that,network analysis was performed to screen key networks and core targets.Ninetynine indirect targets were collected from 14 direct ones.GO and KEGG analyses identified 63 enriched functions and 10 pathways(P<.01).According to the disease target,dipyridamole could undergo drug repositioning for endometriosis(score?1).The mechanism of action of dipyridamole on endometriosis was compared with that of DSP.Finally,eight targets,namely,AR,ESR1,HMGCR,NOS2,NR3C1,PPARG,PTGES,and PTGS2,were validated by molecular docking,suggesting that the probable molecular mechanisms by which DSP treats endometriosis are through seven validated pathways:hsa05200,hsa04915,hsa01100,hsa00900,hsa04920,hsa01130,and hsa00590.Conclusion:In this study,we uncovered the mechanism by which DSP can treat endometriosis using a drugecomponentetarget interaction network.This approach can provide some novel ideas for the development of Chinese medicine and the clinical management of endometriosis.

Research Progress on Material Basis,Pharmacological Effect and Clinical Application of Danggui Shaoyao Powder

The research of modern pharmacology displays that main material basis of Danggui Shaoyao Powder exerting efficacy includes ligustilide,paeoniflorin,poria acid,ferulic acid,ligustrazine and so on,and its efficacy is mainly realized by regulating neural receptor-ligand interaction,cytokine release,and TNF-αinflammatory pathway.Systematic study of metabonomics,serum pharmacochemistry and network pharmacology of Danggui Shaoyao Powder sufficiently clarifies its potential pharmacodynamic mechanism,and it could provide scientific theoretical basis for its clinical application.In this paper,by systemically analyzing material basis of Danggui Shaoyao Powder,and exploring its complex pharmacological mechanism and clinical application in vivo,it could comprehensively understand the clinical value of Danggui Shaoyao Powder,so as to provide beneficial reference for further development of the material basis,quality control and classical prescription of Danggui Shaoyao Powder.

A Medical Case of Acne Vulgaris Treated with Danggui Shaoyao Powder Combined with Sini Powder

Acne vulgaris is a chronic inflammatory skin disease damaging face,and the incidence of acne vulgaris is increasing year by year in China.Acne falls into the category of pimple in traditional Chinese medicine,and there are many dialectical understandings of acne in modern traditional Chinese medicine.Dr.He Aijuan has a unique diagnosis and treatment thinking in treating acne vulgaris(liver stagnation and spleen deficiency type)with traditional Chinese medicine in her clinical work for many years.Her application of Danggui Shaoyao Powder combined with Sini Powder has a remarkable effect in the clinical treatment process,so a clinical medical case is selected for discussion.

Protocol for evaluating the effects of Danggui Shaoyao Powder in the treatment of DPN with qi deficiency and blood stasis pattern based on routine therapy:a randomized controlled trial

Background:Diabetic peripheral neuropathy(DPN)has high incidence.At present,the treatment for DPN mainly focuses on controlling of blood sugar,nourishment of nerves and symptomatic treatment of pain which face some limitations,such as poor effects and adverse reactions of drugs and so on.Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM)has certain curative effect in the prevention and treatment of DPN.Danggui Shaoyao powder,one of the famous classic prescriptions in TCM,has been often used clinically in the treatment of DPN in China,which without any relevant evidence-based medical research data.The protocol was designed to evaluate the effects of Danggui Shaoyao Powder in the treatment of DPN with qi deficiency and blood stasis pattern based on routine therapy.Methods:This protocol is designed as a three-arms parallel-group,outcome-assessor blinded RCT.303 Patients with DPN,from outpatient and inpatient departments of four clinical centers in China,will be randomly allocated into 3 groups(routine group,treatment group and control group).The course of treatment was designed as 1 month and followed up for 3 months.The TCSS scale,TCM syndrome scale,nerve conduction function,serum indexes will be tested to provide more clinical evidences for the effect of Danggui Shaoyao Powder on prevention and treatment of DPN.Finally,we will make statistics and analyse the data to draw a conclusion.Discussion:Danggui Shaoyao Powder is the ideal drug which is an agent acting on multiple targets related to DPN’s pathogenesis.We hope to find more clinical evidences for the effect of Danggui Shaoyao Powder on prevention and treatment of DPN through this RCT experiment.