BACKGROUND Diabetic kidney disease(DKD)is the primary cause of end-stage renal disease.The Astragalus-Coptis drug pair is frequently employed in the management of DKD.However,the precise molecular mechanism underlying...BACKGROUND Diabetic kidney disease(DKD)is the primary cause of end-stage renal disease.The Astragalus-Coptis drug pair is frequently employed in the management of DKD.However,the precise molecular mechanism underlying its therapeutic effect remains elusive.AIM To investigate the synergistic effects of multiple active ingredients in the Astragalus-Coptis drug pair on DKD through multiple targets and pathways.METHODS The ingredients of the Astragalus-Coptis drug pair were collected and screened using the TCMSP database and the SwissADME platform.The targets were predicted using the SwissTargetPrediction database,while the DKD differential gene expression analysis was obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus database.DKD targets were acquired from the GeneCards,Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man database,and DisGeNET databases,with common targets identified through the Venny platform.The protein-protein interaction network and the“disease-active ingredient-target”network of the common targets were constructed utilizing the STRING database and Cytoscape software,followed by the analysis of the interaction relationships and further screening of key targets and core active ingredients.Gene Ontology(GO)function and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)pathway enrichments were performed using the DAVID database.The tissue and organ distributions of key targets were evaluated.PyMOL and AutoDock software validate the molecular docking between the core ingredients and key targets.Finally,molecular dynamics(MD)simulations were conducted to simulate the optimal complex formed by interactions between core ingredients and key target proteins.RESULTS A total of 27 active ingredients and 512 potential targets of the Astragalus-Coptis drug pair were identified.There were 273 common targets between DKD and the Astragalus-Coptis drug pair.Through protein-protein interaction network topology analysis,we identified 9 core active ingredients and 10 key targets.GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses revealed that Astragalus-Coptis drug pair treatment for DKD involves various biological processes,including protein phosphorylation,negative regulation of apoptosis,inflammatory response,and endoplasmic reticulum unfolded protein response.These pathways are mainly associated with the advanced glycation end products(AGE)-receptor for AGE products signaling pathway in diabetic complications,as well as the Lipid and atherosclerosis.Molecular docking and MD simulations demonstrated high affinity and stability between the core active ingredients and key targets.Notably,the quercetin-AKT serine/threonine kinase 1(AKT1)and quercetin-tumor necrosis factor(TNF)protein complexes exhibited exceptional stability.CONCLUSION This study demonstrated that DKD treatment with the Astragalus-Coptis drug pair involves multiple ingredients,targets,and signaling pathways.We propose a novel approach for investigating the molecular mechanism underlying the therapeutic effects of the Astragalus-Coptis drug pair on DKD.Furthermore,we suggest that quercetin is the most potent active ingredient and specifically targets AKT1 and TNF,providing a theoretical foundation for further exploration of pharmacologically active ingredients and elucidating their molecular mechanisms in DKD treatment.展开更多
BACKGROUND Many natural products confer health benefits against diverse diseases through their antioxidant activities.Carbon tetrachloride(CCl4)is often used in animal experiments to study the effects of substances on...BACKGROUND Many natural products confer health benefits against diverse diseases through their antioxidant activities.Carbon tetrachloride(CCl4)is often used in animal experiments to study the effects of substances on liver injury and the related mechanisms of action,among which oxidative stress is a major pathogenic factor.AIM To compare antioxidant and hepatoprotective activities of ten herbs and identify and quantify phytochemicals for the one with strongest hepatoprotection.METHODS The antioxidant activity of ten medicinal herbs was determined by both ferricreducing antioxidant power and Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity assays.The total phenolic and flavonoid contents were determined by Folin–Ciocalteu method and aluminum chloride colorimetry,respectively.Their effects on CCl4-induced oxidative liver injury were evaluated and compared in a mouse model by administrating each water extract(0.15 g/mL,10 mL/kg)once per day for seven consecutive days and a dose of CCl4 solution in olive oil(8%,v/v,10 mL/kg).The herb with the strongest hepatoprotective performance was analyzed for the detailed bioactive components by using high-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization source-ion trap tandem mass spectrometry.RESULTS The results revealed that all tested herbs attenuated CCl4-induced oxidative liver injury;each resulted in significant decreases in levels of serum alanine transaminase,aspartate transaminase,alkaline phosphatase,and triacylglycerols.In addition,most herbs restored hepatic superoxide dismutase and catalase activities,glutathione levels,and reduced malondialdehyde levels.Sanguisorba officinalis(S.officinalis)L.,Coptis chinensis Franch.,and Pueraria lobata(Willd.)Ohwi root were the three most effective herbs,and S.officinalis L.exhibited the strongest hepatoprotective effect.Nine active components were identified in S.officinalis L.Gallic acid and(+)-catechin were quantified(7.86±0.45 mg/g and 8.19±0.57 mg/g dried weight,respectively).Furthermore,the tested herbs displayed a range of in vitro antioxidant activities proportional to their phenolic content;the strongest activities were also found for S.officinalis L.CONCLUSION This study is of value to assist the selection of more effective natural products for direct consumption and the development of nutraceuticals or therapeutics to manage oxidative stress-related diseases.展开更多
文摘BACKGROUND Diabetic kidney disease(DKD)is the primary cause of end-stage renal disease.The Astragalus-Coptis drug pair is frequently employed in the management of DKD.However,the precise molecular mechanism underlying its therapeutic effect remains elusive.AIM To investigate the synergistic effects of multiple active ingredients in the Astragalus-Coptis drug pair on DKD through multiple targets and pathways.METHODS The ingredients of the Astragalus-Coptis drug pair were collected and screened using the TCMSP database and the SwissADME platform.The targets were predicted using the SwissTargetPrediction database,while the DKD differential gene expression analysis was obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus database.DKD targets were acquired from the GeneCards,Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man database,and DisGeNET databases,with common targets identified through the Venny platform.The protein-protein interaction network and the“disease-active ingredient-target”network of the common targets were constructed utilizing the STRING database and Cytoscape software,followed by the analysis of the interaction relationships and further screening of key targets and core active ingredients.Gene Ontology(GO)function and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)pathway enrichments were performed using the DAVID database.The tissue and organ distributions of key targets were evaluated.PyMOL and AutoDock software validate the molecular docking between the core ingredients and key targets.Finally,molecular dynamics(MD)simulations were conducted to simulate the optimal complex formed by interactions between core ingredients and key target proteins.RESULTS A total of 27 active ingredients and 512 potential targets of the Astragalus-Coptis drug pair were identified.There were 273 common targets between DKD and the Astragalus-Coptis drug pair.Through protein-protein interaction network topology analysis,we identified 9 core active ingredients and 10 key targets.GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses revealed that Astragalus-Coptis drug pair treatment for DKD involves various biological processes,including protein phosphorylation,negative regulation of apoptosis,inflammatory response,and endoplasmic reticulum unfolded protein response.These pathways are mainly associated with the advanced glycation end products(AGE)-receptor for AGE products signaling pathway in diabetic complications,as well as the Lipid and atherosclerosis.Molecular docking and MD simulations demonstrated high affinity and stability between the core active ingredients and key targets.Notably,the quercetin-AKT serine/threonine kinase 1(AKT1)and quercetin-tumor necrosis factor(TNF)protein complexes exhibited exceptional stability.CONCLUSION This study demonstrated that DKD treatment with the Astragalus-Coptis drug pair involves multiple ingredients,targets,and signaling pathways.We propose a novel approach for investigating the molecular mechanism underlying the therapeutic effects of the Astragalus-Coptis drug pair on DKD.Furthermore,we suggest that quercetin is the most potent active ingredient and specifically targets AKT1 and TNF,providing a theoretical foundation for further exploration of pharmacologically active ingredients and elucidating their molecular mechanisms in DKD treatment.
文摘BACKGROUND Many natural products confer health benefits against diverse diseases through their antioxidant activities.Carbon tetrachloride(CCl4)is often used in animal experiments to study the effects of substances on liver injury and the related mechanisms of action,among which oxidative stress is a major pathogenic factor.AIM To compare antioxidant and hepatoprotective activities of ten herbs and identify and quantify phytochemicals for the one with strongest hepatoprotection.METHODS The antioxidant activity of ten medicinal herbs was determined by both ferricreducing antioxidant power and Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity assays.The total phenolic and flavonoid contents were determined by Folin–Ciocalteu method and aluminum chloride colorimetry,respectively.Their effects on CCl4-induced oxidative liver injury were evaluated and compared in a mouse model by administrating each water extract(0.15 g/mL,10 mL/kg)once per day for seven consecutive days and a dose of CCl4 solution in olive oil(8%,v/v,10 mL/kg).The herb with the strongest hepatoprotective performance was analyzed for the detailed bioactive components by using high-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization source-ion trap tandem mass spectrometry.RESULTS The results revealed that all tested herbs attenuated CCl4-induced oxidative liver injury;each resulted in significant decreases in levels of serum alanine transaminase,aspartate transaminase,alkaline phosphatase,and triacylglycerols.In addition,most herbs restored hepatic superoxide dismutase and catalase activities,glutathione levels,and reduced malondialdehyde levels.Sanguisorba officinalis(S.officinalis)L.,Coptis chinensis Franch.,and Pueraria lobata(Willd.)Ohwi root were the three most effective herbs,and S.officinalis L.exhibited the strongest hepatoprotective effect.Nine active components were identified in S.officinalis L.Gallic acid and(+)-catechin were quantified(7.86±0.45 mg/g and 8.19±0.57 mg/g dried weight,respectively).Furthermore,the tested herbs displayed a range of in vitro antioxidant activities proportional to their phenolic content;the strongest activities were also found for S.officinalis L.CONCLUSION This study is of value to assist the selection of more effective natural products for direct consumption and the development of nutraceuticals or therapeutics to manage oxidative stress-related diseases.
