Network pharmacology and verification experiment-based prediction of active components and potential targets of Alpiniae Oxyphyllae Fructus-Saposhnikoviae Radix(Yizhiren-Fangfeng)for treatment of diabetic kidney disease

Background:In this study,we analyzed the potential active components,related crucial targets and possible signaling pathway mechanisms of Alpiniae Oxyphyllae Fructus and Saposhnikoviae Radix(AOF-SR)herb pairs in the treatment of diabetic kidney disease(DKD)using network pharmacology and verification experiments.Methods:The active compounds and potential targets of AOF-SR were derived from the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform,The Encyclopedia of Traditional Chinese Medicine,and PubChem databases,and the potential therapeutic targets of DKD were derived from the OMIM,Drugbank,and DisGeNET databases.The“compounds-diseases-targets”network was constructed using Cytoscape 3.6.0.ClusterMaker functionality in Cytoscape is being used to screen important targets for AOF-SR treatment of DKD.Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analysis of important targets were performed using DAVID database.In addition,according to the predicted results of network pharmacology,HK-2 cells were used to construct DKD model for verification experiment.HK-2 cells were divided into control group,high glucose(HG)group and AOF-SR(HG+AOF-SR)group to detect survival rate and expression of key proteins in NF-κB and PI3K/Akt signaling pathways.Results:A total of 38 compounds were selected from AOF-SR,of which 23 were Alpiniae Oxyphyllae Fructus and 15 were Saposhnikoviae Radix.Through enrichment analysis of 82 important targets,88 signaling pathways were identified;some of these pathways,such as the NF-κB,PI3K-Akt,IL-17,and JAK/STAT signaling pathways,regulate the pathological process of DKD.In verification experiment,the HK-2 cells survival rate was higher in the HG+AOF-SR group than in the HG group(P<0.05).Moreover,western blotting results showed that the expression levels of NF-κB,p-PI3K,and p-Akt in HG+AOF-SR group were significantly lower than those in HG group(P<0.05).Conclusion:Overall,this study revealed the active compounds,important targets and possible mechanisms of AOF-SR treatment for DKD,and conducted preliminary verification experiments on its correctness,provided novel insights into the treatment of DKD by AOF-SR.

Clinical Study on Effect of Chinese Herbal Medicine for Supplementing Kidney and Qi and Activating Blood Circulation in Treating Intrauterine Growth Retardation of Fetus

Objective: To explore the therapeutic effect and the possible working mechanism in using Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) for supplementing Kidney and Qi, and activating blood circulation in treating intrauterine growth retardation of fetus (IUGR). Methods: Fifty-five cases of IUGR were divided into two groups, 30 cases in the CHM group treated with CHM and the 25 in the control group treated with amino acids. The effect of CHM treatment was observed and compared with that of the control group, normal pregnancy group and non-treated IUGR group. Results: Body weight of the newborns in the CHM was markedly higher than that in the control group. Not only the maternal fundal height (FH) and the abdominal circumference (AC), but also the fetal growth parameters, including biparietal diameter, head circumference (HC), and femur length (FL) in the CHM group increased much faster than those in the control group. After CHM treatment, the maternal serum levels of estriol (E3) and human placental lactogen (hPL) approached to those in the normal pregnancy group, but the control group,in comparison with the normal pregnancy group, was significantly different. The umbilical venous plasma concentration of essential amino acids in both treated groups improved, but the improvement in the CHM group was more significant than that in the control group. No apparent adverse effect of CHM was observed in either mother or fetus.Conclusion: CHM for supplementing Kidney and Qi and activating blood circulation was more effective in improving placental function and enhancing amino acid transportation than amino acid

Therapeutic effects of Chinese herbal medicines for treatment of urolithiasis: A review

Urolithiasis is a common and complex disease of the urinary system, which can cause urinary tract blockage, urinary tract infection, and even damage to urinary system-related tissues. Although urolithiasis can be cured, its high recurrence rate and the development of chronic kidney disease in some patients have drawn the attention of nephrologists. Although the application of extracorporeal lithotripsy, percutaneous nephrolithotomy and other minimally invasive techniques have made the treatment of urolithiasis more efficient, pharmacotherapy plays an indispensable role in reducing their morbidity and recurrence rates. Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) has been used for treatment and prevention of urolithiasis in developing countries for centuries, known for its unquestionable efficacy and safety. This article reviews the progress of clinical trials and pharmacological studies on the treatment of urolithiasis with Chinese herbal medicines(CHMs). The mechanism of CHMs in the treatment of urolithiasis mainly involve preventing further growth and aggregation of urolithiasis, reducing the PH of urine, promoting calculus dissolution. Furthermore, some CHMs can increase urine output, relax smooth muscles, and promote the removal of calculus. These findings provide new treatment strategies and options for urolithiasis and secondary kidney damage.

不同扶正药物及其配伍对SMMC-7721人肝癌细胞p53、N-ras基因的影响

目的:探讨不同扶正药物及其配伍对 SMMC-7721人肝癌细胞 p53、N-ras 基因的调控作用。方法:选取临床肝癌治疗常用的益气、温阳、补肾、养阴等扶正治法的代表药物,并根据阴阳治则理论将其分别配伍为益气养阴、温阳养阴及补肾(阳)养阴等复合方治法,分别煎成汤液,采取大鼠灌胃给药后分离药物血清的方法制备药物血清,作用于体外培养的 SMMC-7721人肝癌细胞,以正常大鼠血清和维甲酸作对照。流式细胞仪分析 p53、p21^(ras)基因蛋白表达,RT-PCR 半定量观察 p53及 N-ras 基因转录情况。结果:养阴、益气养阴、温阳养阴、补肾养阴组细胞 p53蛋白表达增强,p21^(ras)蛋白表达降低,其中,又以益气养阴组的作用最为明显;益气养阴组 p53转录增强,N-ras 转录减弱。结论:养阴药北沙参、麦门冬及其与益气、温阳、补肾配伍后的药物血清具有显著的调控 SMMC-7721人肝癌细胞 p53、N-ras 基因表达的作用。

补肾中药对老龄大鼠睾丸功能影响的比较研究

目的:比较研究补肾中药六味地黄汤和八味地黄汤对老龄大鼠睾丸功能的影响。方法:8只3月龄成年雄性SD大鼠为正常对照组;24只22月龄老龄雄性SD大鼠随机分为3组,每组8只,分别为老龄组(SC)、六味地黄汤组(LW)、八味地黄汤组(BW)。LW组灌胃给药六味地黄汤,BW组灌胃给药八味地黄汤,连续用药60天。应用精子运动CASA分析和流式细胞仪检测技术,比较研究六味地黄汤和八味地黄汤对衰老大鼠精子运动能力、生殖细胞凋亡率和增殖指数的影响。结果:老龄组大鼠与成年组比较,精子密度明显下降(P<0.05);活动率、直线活动率、细胞凋亡率下降非常显著(P<0.01);细胞增殖指数明显增加(P<0.05)。六味地黄汤和八味地黄汤对运动精子百分率有非常显著的提高(P<0.01),生殖细胞凋亡率明显下降(P<0.05,P<0.01)。八味地黄汤组与六味地黄汤组比较,精子直线活动率明显增加(P<0.05),生殖细胞凋亡率明显下降(P<0.05)。结论:六味地黄汤和八味地黄汤在改善老龄大鼠睾丸功能方面,均有提高精子运动能力,减少其生殖细胞凋亡的作用。八味地黄汤在降低老龄大鼠睾丸生殖细胞凋亡率,提高精子直线活动率等方面优于六味地黄汤。