Radix Paeoniae Alba attenuates Radix Bupleuri-induced hepatotoxicity by modulating gut microbiota to alleviate the inhibition of saikosaponins on glutathione synthetase

Radix Bupleuri(RB)is commonly used to treat depression,but it can also lead to hepatotoxicity after longterm use.In many anti-depression prescriptions,RB is often used in combination with Radix Paeoniae Alba(RPA)as an herb pair.However,whether RPA can alleviate RB-induced hepatotoxicity remain unclear.In this work,the results confirmed that RB had a dose-dependent antidepressant effect,but the optimal antidepressant dose caused hepatotoxicity.Notably,RPA effectively reversed RB-induced hepatotoxicity.Afterward,the mechanism of RB-induced hepatotoxicity was confirmed.The results showed that saikosaponin A and saikosaponin D could inhibit GSH synthase(GSS)activity in the liver,and further cause liver injury through oxidative stress and nuclear factor kappa B(NF-kB)/NOD-like receptor thermal protein domain associated protein 3(NLRP3)pathway.Furthermore,the mechanisms by which RPA attenuates RBinduced hepatotoxicity were investigated.The results demonstrated that RPA increased the abundance of intestinal bacteria with glycosidase activity,thereby promoting the conversion of saikosaponins to saikogenins in vivo.Different from saikosaponin A and saikosaponin D,which are directly combined with GSS as an inhibitor,their deglycosylation conversion products saikogenin F and saikogenin G exhibited no GSS binding activity.Based on this,RPA can alleviate the inhibitory effect of saikosaponins on GSS activity to reshape the liver redox balance and further reverse the RB-induced liver inflammatory response by the NFkB/NLRP3 pathway.In conclusion,the present study suggests that promoting the conversion of saikosaponins by modulating gut microbiota to attenuate the inhibition of GSS is the potential mechanism by which RPA prevents RB-induced hepatotoxicity.

Active components of Bupleuri Radix in the treatment of schizophrenia analyzed by network pharmacology and clinical verification

Background:Bupleuri Radix is a common Chinese medicinal material in traditional Chinese medicine.Currently,the therapeutic effect of treating schizophrenia is relatively well understood.However,there are fewer studies examining the underlying mechanisms of its treatment.The objective of the study was to investigate the primary mechanisms of Bupleuri Radix in treating schizophrenia through network pharmacology and clinical validation.Method:Network pharmacology revealed possible molecular mechanisms,followed by clinical verification.Sixty-seven schizophrenia patients undergoing treatment at the Hunan Brain Hospital between October and November 2022 were recruited and randomly divided into the olanzapine group and the olanzapine+Bupleuri Radix group.Additionally,32 healthy people undergoing physical examinations during the same period were included as the control group.The patient’s positive and negative symptom scale scores were compared.qPCR was used to detect the mRNA expression levels of ESR1,mTOR,EIF4E,and SMAD4 in peripheral blood.Results:Through network pharmacological analysis,it was concluded in this study that Bupleuri Radix might regulate the mTOR,PI3K-Akt,and HIF-1 signaling pathways.Clinical experiments indicated that compared with before treatment,the positive and negative symptom scale scores and total scores of the two treatment groups were significantly decreased after treatment(P<0.01).In addition,the positive and negative symptom scale scores and total scores in the olanzapine+Bupleuri Radix group were significantly decreased(P<0.01)compared to the olanzapine group after treatment.Before treatment,ESR1 mRNA expression levels in peripheral blood were significantly higher in the two treatment groups than in the control group,whereas the mRNA expression levels of mTOR,EIF4E,and SMAD4 in peripheral blood were significantly lower(P<0.01).The mRNA expression levels of mTOR,EIF4E,and SMAD4 in peripheral blood were significantly higher after therapy than before treatment,whereas the mRNA expression levels of ESR1 in peripheral blood were significantly lower(P<0.01).After therapy,the olanzapine+Bupleuri Radix group’s mRNA expression levels of mTOR,EIF4E,and SMAD4 were significantly higher than those of the olanzapine group,whereas the mRNA expression levels of ESR1 were significantly lower(P<0.01).Conclusion:The mechanism of Bupleuri Radix’s therapeutic efficacy in schizophrenia may involve the up-regulation of mTOR,EIF4E,and SMAD4 mRNA expression and the down-regulation of ESR1 mRNA expression in peripheral blood.

Effects of Radix Puerariae, Radix Rehmanniae and Their Compatibility on Blood Glucose and Blood Lipids in Mice

[Objectives]To explore the effects of the compatibility of Radix Puerariae and Radix Rehmanniae on blood glucose and blood lipids in diabetic mouses.[Methods]Diabetic mouse model was established.The body weight and fasting blood glucose of mice were measured after 7 and 14 d of administration,and the biochemical indicators of blood lipids(TC,HDL-C,and LDL-C)were detected after 14 d of administration.[Results]Compared with the Radix Puerariae group and Radix Rehmanniae group,the compatibility group(1:2)had the best hypoglycemic effect(P<0.05),and TC and LDL-C in the compatibility group(2:1)significantly decreased(P<0.05),while HDL-C in the compatibility group(1:1)significantly increased(P<0.05).[Conclusions]Radix Puerariae,Radix Rehmanniae and their combination can reduce the blood glucose of diabetic mice.The compatibility group(1:2)had a significant hypoglycemic effect(P<0.05),and LDL-C in the compatibility group(2:1)significantly declined,while HDL-C in the compatibility group(1:1)rose significantly.

Puerariae Radix protects against ulcerative colitis in mice by inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome activation

Ulcerative colitis(UC)is a common inflammatory disease of the gastrointestinal tract.Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)has long been used in Asia as a treatment for UC and Puerariae Radix(PR)is a reliable anti-diarrheal therapy.The aims of this study were to investigate the protective effect of PR using the dextran sulfate sodium salt(DSS)-induced UC model in mice and identify molecular mechanisms of PR action.The chemical constituents of PR via ultra-performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry and identified potential PR and UC targets using a network pharmacology(NP)approach were obtained to guide mouse experiments.A total of 180 peaks were identified from PR including 48 flavonoids,46 organic acids,14 amino acids,8 phenols,8 carbohydrates,7 alkaloids,6 coumarins and 43 other constituents.NP results showed that caspase-1 was the most dysregulated of the core genes associated with UC.A PR dose of 0.136 mg/g administered to DSS treated mice reversed weight loss and decreased colon lengths found in UC mice.PR also alleviated intestinal mucosal shedding,inflammatory cell infiltration and mucin loss.PR treatment suppressed upregulation of NOD-like receptor protein 3(NLRP3),cysteinyl aspartate-specific proteases-1(caspase-1),apoptosis-associated speck-like(ASC)and gasdermin D(GSDMD)at both the protein and m RNA expression levels.The addition of a small molecule dual-specificity phosphatase inhibitor NSC 95397 inhibited the positive effects of PR.These results indicated that PR exerts a protective effect on DSS-induced colitis by inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome activation in mice.

Systematic investigation of Radix Salviae for treating diabetic peripheral neuropathy disease based on network Pharmacology

BACKGROUND Diabetic peripheral neuropathy(DPN)is a debilitating complication of diabetes mellitus with limited available treatment options.Radix Salviae,a traditional Chinese herb,has shown promise in treating DPN,but its therapeutic mech-anisms have not been systematically investigated.AIM Radix Salviae(Danshen in pinin),a traditional Chinese medicine(TCM),is widely used to treat DPN in China.However,the mechanism through which Radix Salviae treats DPN remains unclear.Therefore,we aimed to explore the mechanism of action of Radix Salviae against DPN using network pharmacology.METHODS The active ingredients and target genes of Radix Salviae were screened using the TCM pharmacology database and analysis platform.The genes associated with DPN were obtained from the Gene Cards and OMIM databases,a drug-com-position-target-disease network was constructed,and a protein–protein inter-action network was subsequently constructed to screen the main targets.Gene Ontology(GO)functional annotation and pathway enrichment analysis were performed via the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)using Bioconductor.RESULTS A total of 56 effective components,108 targets and 4581 DPN-related target genes of Radix Salviae were screened.Intervention with Radix Salviae for DPN mainly involved 81 target genes.The top 30 major targets were selected for enrichment analysis of GO and KEGG pathways.CONCLUSION These results suggested that Radix Salviae could treat DPN by regulating the AGE-RAGE signaling pathway and the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway.Therefore,Danshen may affect DPN by regulating inflammation and apoptosis.

Advances in Research of Anti-tumor Effect of Aconiti Radix

In this paper,the anti-tumor effects of Aconiti Radix were reviewed and summarized,and the clinical feasibility of Aconiti Radix as a potential anti-tumor drug was analyzed,in order to provide a useful reference for the future research and development of new anti-cancer drugs of Aconiti Radix.

Potential application of Nardostachyos Radix et Rhizoma-Rhubarb for the treatment of diabetic kidney disease based on network pharmacology and cell culture experimental verification

BACKGROUND Diabetic kidney disease(DKD)is one of the serious complications of diabetes mellitus,and the existing treatments cannot meet the needs of today's patients.Traditional Chinese medicine has been validated for its efficacy in DKD after many years of clinical application.However,the specific mechanism by which it works is still unclear.Elucidating the molecular mechanism of the Nardostachyos Radix et Rhizoma-rhubarb drug pair(NRDP)for the treatment of DKD will provide a new way of thinking for the research and development of new drugs.AIM To investigate the mechanism of the NRDP in DKD by network pharmacology combined with molecular docking,and then verify the initial findings by in vitro experiments.METHODS The Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology(TCMSP)database was used to screen active ingredient targets of NRDP.Targets for DKD were obtained based on the Genecards,OMIM,and TTD databases.The VENNY 2.1 database was used to obtain DKD and NRDP intersection targets and their Venn diagram,and Cytoscape 3.9.0 was used to build a"drug-component-target-disease"network.The String database was used to construct protein interaction networks.Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)enrichment analysis and Gene Ontology analysis were performed based on the DAVID database.After selecting the targets and the active ingredients,Autodock software was used to perform molecular docking.In experimental validation using renal tubular epithelial cells(TCMK-1),we used the Cell Counting Kit-8 assay to detect the effect of NRDP on cell viability,with glucose solution used to mimic a hyperglycemic environment.Flow cytometry was used to detect the cell cycle progression and apoptosis.Western blot was used to detect the protein expression of STAT3,p-STAT3,BAX,BCL-2,Caspase9,and Caspase3.RESULTS A total of 10 active ingredients and 85 targets with 111 disease-related signaling pathways were obtained for NRDP.Enrichment analysis of KEGG pathways was performed to determine advanced glycation end products(AGEs)-receptor for AGEs(RAGE)signaling as the core pathway.Molecular docking showed good binding between each active ingredient and its core targets.In vitro experiments showed that NRDP inhibited the viability of TCMK-1 cells,blocked cell cycle progression in the G0/G1 phase,and reduced apoptosis in a concentrationdependent manner.Based on the results of Western blot analysis,NRDP differentially downregulated p-STAT3,BAX,Caspase3,and Caspase9 protein levels(P<0.01 or P<0.05).In addition,BAX/BCL-2 and p-STAT3/STAT3 ratios were reduced,while BCL-2 and STAT3 protein expression was upregulated(P<0.01).CONCLUSION NRDP may upregulate BCL-2 and STAT3 protein expression,and downregulate BAX,Caspase3,and Caspase9 protein expression,thus activating the AGE-RAGE signaling pathway,inhibiting the vitality of TCMK-1 cells,reducing their apoptosis.and arresting them in the G0/G1 phase to protect them from damage by high glucose.

Protective mechanism of Paeoniae Radix Alba against chemical liver injury based on network pharmacology,molecular docking,and in vitro experiments

Objective:To explore and validate the potential targets of Paeoniae Radix Alba(P.Radix,Bai Shao)in protecting against chemical liver injury through network pharmacology,molecular docking technology,and in vitro cell experiments.Methods:Network pharmacology was used to identify the common potential targets of P.Radix and chemical liver injury.Molecular docking was used to fit the components,which were subsequently verified in vitro.A cell model of hepatic fibrosis was established by activating hepatic stellate cell(HSC)-LX2 cells with 10 ng/mL transforming growth factor-β1.The cells were exposed to different concentrations of total glucosides of paeony(TGP),the active substance of P.Radix,and then evaluated using the cell counting kit-8 assay,enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay,and western blot.Results:Analysis through network pharmacology revealed 13 key compounds of P.Radix,and the potential targets for preventing chemical liver injury were IL-6,AKT serine/threonine kinase 1,jun protooncogene,heat shock protein 90 alpha family class A member 1(HSP90AA1),peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma(PPARG),PTGS2,and CASP3.Gene Ontology(GO)enrichment analysis indicated the involvement of response to drugs,membrane rafts,and peptide binding.Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)enrichment analysis revealed that the main pathways involved lipid and atherosclerosis and chemical carcinogenesis-receptor activation.Paeoniflorin and albiflorin exhibited strong affinity for HSP90AA1,PTGS2,PPARG,and CASP3.Different concentrations of TGP can inhibit the expression of COL-I,COL-III,IL-6,TNF-a,IL-1β,HSP-90a,and PTGS2 while increasing the expression of PPAR-γand CASP3 in activated HSC-LX2 cells.Conclusion:P.Radix primarily can regulate targets such as HSP90AA1,PTGS2,PPARG,CASP3.TGP,the main active compound of P.Radix,protects against chemical liver injury by reducing the inflammatory response,activating apoptotic proteins,and promoting the apoptosis of activated HSCs.

Network Pharmacology study on Mechanism of Radix Bupleuri Multi-component Synergistic Therapy for Breast Cancer

Objective: To explore the mechanism of Radix Bupleuri Treatment of Breast Cancer through network pharmacology. Methods: TCMSP Database was used and related literature was collected to screen out the active constituents of Radix Bupleuri. Multiple databases were used to search the targets of the constituents and the disease. Next, a visual map of the compound-target-path network were constructed. The protein-protein interaction network was visually analyzed. Finally, the enrichment analysis of GO biological process and pathway enrichment analysis were carried out. Results: Active compounds of Radix Bupleuri related to disease targets have been obtained,and they play therapeutic roles for breast cancer through mainly regulating target proteins such as PTGS2, NOS2, AR and ESR. Meanwhile, the active compounds of Radix Bupleuri have an impact on biological processes such as steroid receptor activity and endocrine resistance, platinum resistance, breast cancer-related signaling pathways. Hence, it plays a role in the treatment of breast cancer. Conclusion: The results of this study preliminarily validate the target and mode of Radix Bupleuri in the treatment of Breast Cancer, and lay a foundation for further revealing its mechanism of action.

Exploring the effect of Radix Bupleuri(Bupleurum chinense DC)on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease based on network pharmacology

Objective:To investigate the main effects of Radix Bupleuri(Chinese name called Chai Hu)in the prevention and improvement of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease using network pharmacology techniques.Methods:We used theTraditional Chinese Medicine Systematic Pharmacologydatabase to query the main active ingredients of Radix Bupleuri;used theDisGenet database,Treatment Target Database,and DrugBank Database to screen the targets of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease;used the matchingtraditional Chinese medicine-disease targets to build the traditional Chinese medicine-component-target network system using Cytoscape software;used STRING software to build the protein protein interactionsystem and visualized the data;DAVID database was used forgene ontologyfunctional enrichment study andKyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomespathway study.Results:Twelve major functional components and 175 targets have been obtained for the prevention and alleviation of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in Radix Bupleuri;network pharmacology also confirmed the maximum degree value of kaempferol,the main active component of Radix Bupleuri;geneontologyfunctional enrichment analysis obtained the top 10 entries ofbiological process,cellular component,molecular functionand Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomespathway analysis obtained the top 30 entries of the signalling pathway.Conclusion:Radix Bupleuri may use Fluid shear stress and atherosclerosis,Cancer,Advanced glycation end-(receptor of advanced glycation,interleukin 17,Hepatitis B,Toxoplasmosis,Relaxin,andtumor necrosis factorsignalling pathway to regulate the inflammatory response of interleukin6,tumor necrosis factor,and prostaglandin endoperoxide synthase2targets and reduce extracellular matrix deposition to improve the therapeutic effect of Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.And the active ingredient of traditional Chinese medicine Radix Bupleuri,kaempferol,may also play a significant role in this.

RADIX BUPLEURI ADDED TO THE OS DRACONIS AND CONCHA OSTREAE DECOCTION IN THE TREATMENT OF NEUROPSYCHOPATHIES -A Report of 4 Cases

EpilepsyPatient Wang, a boy aged 14, was a pu-pil from Nanle County, Henan Province. Hemade his first visit to this clinic on Aug. 3,1984 with a history of having a seizure of ep-ilepsy for the first time 2 years before with-out any apparent cause. After that, the at-tack recurred every 1--3 months. Each timewhen an attack set in, the patient would falldown unconscious with the eyes turned up-wards and the throat emitting a sound, andrecover from the epileptic bout in severalminutes, leaving a feeling of giddiness andlack of strength. An EEG was performed inXinxiang Mental Disease Hospital and

Study on the Mechanism of Pseudostellariae Radix in Regulating Angiogenesis Based on Network Pharmacology and a Dual-screening System

[Objectives]This study was conducted to clarify the action mechanism of Pseudostellariae Radix in regulating angiogenesis by using network pharmacology and a dual-screening system,and to provide a basis for its clinical treatment of cardiovascular diseases.[Methods]The TCMSP database was used for preliminary screening to obtain the active compounds of Pseudostellariae Radix and the protein targets of its action.GeneCards and OMIM databases were used to search for targets related to angiogenesis.Cytoscape 3.9.1 was used to construct a drug-target network and protein interaction network of Pseudostellariae Radix in angiogenesis.The GO enrichment analysis and KEGG pathway analysis of the targets of Pseudostellariae Radix in angiogenesis were carried out on Metascape platform.The effects of the screened active compounds were verified using a dual-screening system.[Results]Six active components of Pseudostellariae Radix,luteolin,acetin,beta-sitosterol,linarin,schottenol and 1-monolinolein,were screened by TCMSP database;and the six active components were predicted with 78 common target proteins related to angiogenesis,of which 19 were core targets.Pseudostellariae Radix mainly intervened in angiogenesis through domain specific binding,ubiquitin-like protein ligase binding,kinase binding and other molecular functions to regulate biological processes such as membrane microdomain,plasma membrane raft and caveola.The results of KEGG enrichment indicated that pathways in cancer,lipid and atherosclerosis,hepatitis B,apoptosis,toxoplasmosis and other key pathways might be the mechanism for the intervention of angiogenesis.The results of the dual-screening system showed that luteolin,acacetin,beta-sitosterol and linarin protected HUVECs and promoted zebrafish angiogenesis.[Conclusions]This study preliminarily demonstrated that luteolin,acacetin,beta-sitosterol and linarin could intervene in angiogenesis through multiple targets and multiple pathways,providing ideas and a scientific basis for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases.

Action Mechanism of Radix Aucklandiae against Gastric Ulcer Based on Network Pharmacology

[Objectives] To explore the potential targets and action mechanism of radix aucklandiae (RA) in the treatment of gastric ulcer (GU) by network pharmacology. [Methods] Gene targets were obtained through TCMSP, DisGeNet, OMIM, GeneCards databases, which related to GU and the active components of RA. The mutual potential functional targets were selected through Venny to constitute the PPI protein interaction network. The DAVID database was applied for GO and KEGG enrichment analysis of the common targets to construct the "Active component-Target-Pathway" network and analyze the relationship between them. [Results] There are 31 active components, 82 related targets and 16 common targets in the treatment of GU. The active components in Ra may exert anti-ulcer effects through six signaling pathways, including NF-κB, Toll-like receptors, VEGF and HIF-1. In addition, PTGS2, TNF, TLR4, JUN, IL2, SRC, RELA, KDR, NOS2 and PLAU may be the 10 key targets of Ra in the treatment of GU. [Conclusions] Ra controls GU through the synergies of multiple components, targets and pathways. It can provide a theoretical basis for further study on the mechanism of RA in treating GU.

Advances in toxicological studies of Radix Phytolaccae

Radix Phytolaccae is the dried root of Phytolacca acinosa Roxb or P.ameri-cana L,which is commonly used as a traditional Chinese medicine to treat diseases like cirrhotic ascites,hepatitis B,nephrotic syndrome,psoriasis,etc.However,there is no exact basis for its clinical application safety.In this paper,the toxic effects and mechanism of Saponin A(EsA),the main component of Radix Phytolaccae,were summarized by searching the results and reports of toxicology related to the plant from 1991 to 2023 on CNKI and pubmed,aiming to provide reference for the toxicological research and future research direction of Radix Phytolaccae,so that Radix Phytolaccae can be safely and effectively used in clinical practice.

当归不同药用部位的化学成分及药理作用研究进展

当归作为“分根梢”理论的代表药材,其以不同药用部位分别入药起源于唐代,形成于金元,兴盛于明清;经历代医家临床实践总结,逐渐确立了归头止血、归身补血、归尾活血的作用功效。现代研究表明,当归中含有当归多糖、挥发油、有机酸、无机盐等药效部位及阿魏酸、绿原酸、欧前胡素、藁本内酯等药效成分;在当归头、当归身及当归尾等不同药用部位中,上述药效物质基础的种类分布均匀、区别不大,但含量及相关比例差异明显;多数学者认为,含量、比例差异可能是导致当归不同药用部位存在较大药理作用差异的主要原因。通过对相关文献的检索,梳理和总结近年来国内外对当归不同药用部位中药效物质基础分布情况及相关药理作用的研究,从当归不同药用部位中药效物质基础的种类分布和含量差异两个方面综合分析,并结合相关药效物质基础对应的药理作用研究,找寻当归不同药用部位间存在的“成分-效用”关系,以期为历代医家将当归按当归头、当归身、当归尾分别入药提供更强有力的佐证,同时为当归提出进一步研究的主要方向和思路。

Molecular mechanism study of Radix Pueraria for the treatment of glioma based on network pharmacology

Radix Pueraria(RP)has a long history of dual-use in medicine and food,and is well known as“Asian ginseng”.Recently,some studies about the effect of RP against glioma have been reported.However,little is elucidated about the molecular mechanism of interaction.This study used network pharmacology and molecular docking techniques to clarify the molecular mechanism of RP in the treatment of glioma.Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform(TCMSP)was applied to screen potential active ingredients of RP and their targets.Targets for glioma were obtained from Genecards,OMIM,and Therapeutic Target Database(TTD).The topological analysis of cross-target and core target interaction was conducted using protein-protein interaction analysis(PPI).With the application of bioinformatics,GO and KEGG enrichment analyses were further carried out.Molecular docking was used then to validate the binding affinity between active components and key targets.This study successfully identified 6 potential active ingredients,namely beta-sitosterol,daidzein,formononetin,genistein,ononin,and puerarin.The hub targets were AKT1,TP53,VEGRA,EGFR,and MAPK3.These targets were mainly involved in biological processes,such as RNA polymerase II-specific DNA-binding transcription factor binding,and positive regulation of cell migration in the membrane raft,and were regulated by PI3K-Akt pathway.Further study showed that almost all the compounds had good binding abilities with above-mentioned targets.In short,this study systematically revealed the anti-glioma mechanism of RP to provide reference for the treatment of glioma.

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.

Exploring the mechanism of Saposhnikoviae Radix and Chuanxiong Rhizoma treating Parkinson's disease based on network pharmacology and molecular docking

Backgroud:Parkinson’s disease(PD)is a neurodegenerative disorder with an increasing global prevalence.However,the development of drugs for PD treatment has not kept pace with the continuously growing number of patients.Currently,the search for new effective substances from natural drugs is a major research direction.Two Chinese medicinal materials,Saposhnikoviae Radix(Fangfeng)and Chuanxiong Rhizoma(Chuanxiong),are commonly used in the treatment of PD in China.However,the mechanism of their combination is not clear,and further research is needed.Methods:Data were collected from publicly available databases:TCMSP,UnitProt,GeneCards OMIM,PharmGKB,Therapeutic Target Database and DrugBank.Network pharmacology and molecular docking methods was used to analyze the data to discover the possible pharmacological effects of the two drugs in the treatment of PD.Results:Beta-sitosterol,Mandenol and Wallichilide were the active components of Saposhnikoviae Radix and Chuanxiong Rhizoma(FC),and they stably bonded with PD targets,including PTGS2,CASP3,AKT1 and JUN.The target genes of FC were significantly enriched in PD-associated pathways,including calcium signaling and apoptosis pathways.Moreover,the study revealed that the active components of FC may affect cellular structures,such as membrane rafts,membrane microdomains,membrane regions,and postsynaptic membranes,which,in turn,affect a variety of molecular functions and biological processes.Conclusion:The results of this study indicate the direction for clarifying the pharmacodynamic substances of FC,the extraction method of pharmacodynamic substances,as well as the mechanism and efficacy of pharmacodynamic substances.Importantly,this study provides a strategy for developing new therapeutic drugs for PD.

Study on mechanism and molecular docking verification of Angelicae Sinensis Radix and Astragali Radix in treating ischemic stroke

Background:Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)has been shown to be effective in treating ischemic stroke(IS),and the combination of Angelicae Sinensis Radix(ASR)and Astragali Radix(AR)is a core TCM prescription that is widely acknowledged for its efficacy in IS treatment.This study utilized network pharmacology methods to explore the molecular mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of Angelicae Sinensis Radix and Astragali Radix in IS treatment,with preliminary validation conducted through molecular docking.Methods:Information on the structure,targets,main biological functions,and pathways of the active components in Angelicae Sinensis Radix and Astragali Radix was collected using databases such as PubChem,PharmMapper,UniProt,and GeneCards.The results were visualized using software such as Cytoscape 3.6.1,Ledock,and pymol.Results:We retrieved 20 active components and 149 targets associated with the compatibility of Angelicae Sinensis Radix and Astragali Radix from various databases,and GeneCards database was used to search 3350 IS-related gene targets,including 78 key targets of Angelicae Sinensis Radix and Astragali Radix for the treatment of IS.Enrichment analysis of these 78 targets using gene ontology(GO)and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)revealed the involvement of 48 GO terms in the treatment of IS,mainly in biological processes such as metabolism,biological regulation,and stress response.The composition of biological devices such as supercavitary membrane,cell fluid,and extracellular space was also involved.The biological functions mainly included protein binding,ion binding,hydrolytic enzyme activity,and others.The identified pathways were estrogen signaling pathway,mitogen-activated protein kinase(MAPK)signaling pathway,PI3K-AKT signaling pathway,RAP1 signaling pathway,P53 signaling pathway,PPAR signaling pathway,FOXO signaling pathway,RAS signaling pathway,prolactin signaling pathway,HIF-1 signaling pathway,and TNF signaling pathway.Molecular docking analysis showed that the 17 key active components of Angelicae Sinensis Radix and Astragali Radix had strong binding activity with 13 IS key targets.Conclusion:Through the application of network pharmacology methods,it was found that the use of Angelicae Sinensis Radix and Astragali Radix for treating ischemic stroke mainly targets the MAPK and PI3K-AKT signaling pathways,involving several crucial compounds and genes.Nevertheless,additional in vitro and in vivo studies are needed to verify these findings.

道地中药材金果榄种子育苗技术

以金果榄(Tinosporae Radix)基原植物青牛胆[Tinospora sagittata(Oliv.)Gagnep.]实生种子进行大棚育苗,并检测一、二年生金果榄种苗的农艺性状及二年生金果榄种苗干燥块根的古伦宾含量。对一年生金果榄种苗喷施MS营养液,检测其农艺性状并分析各性状之间的相关性。结果表明,金果榄种苗株高、主根长、块根随种植时间呈增长趋势,二年生苗叶片数在6—7月无明显增加;种苗叶形指数、块根形指数分别在5月龄、17月龄后无明显变化;二年生金果榄种苗干燥块根EP理论塔板数均>5 000、古伦宾含量均>2%,水分含量均<13.0%,符合药典规定。MS营养液处理促进了一年生金果榄种苗株高增长、叶片数增加和块根的形成,种苗株高、叶宽、茎粗与地下块根鲜重呈显著正相关,块根鲜重与块根纵径、块根横径、块根形指数呈显著正相关,块根横径、块根纵径、块根形指数之间均呈极显著正相关。叶形指数与叶长、叶宽之间无相关关系,而块根形指数与块根纵、横径之间呈正相关。