scholarly journals Revealing Synergistic Mechanism of Multiple Components in Gandi Capsule for Diabetic Nephropathy Therapeutics by Network Pharmacology

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jian Zhang ◽  
Qiqiang Zhang ◽  
Xiaofei Chen ◽  
Yan Liu ◽  
Jiyang Xue ◽  
...  

Gandi capsule, a traditional Chinese herbal medicinal formulation that consists of eight herbs, is used as a clinical therapy for diabetic nephropathy. To clarify the potential synergistic mechanism, this study adopted a network pharmacology strategy to screen the action targets that corresponded to the active components in the Gandi capsule. We first constructed a compound database of 315 components in the Gandi capsule and a target database of diabetic nephropathy, which included 155 target proteins. Six representative compounds were selected to dock with 99 proteins found in the UniProtKB database with their PDB code, and interaction networks between the active ingredients of the Gandi capsule and their targets were mapped out. Results revealed 47 proteins with a high affinity with at least one compound molecule in the Gandi capsule. The main action pathways closely related to the development of diabetic nephropathy were the TGF-β1, AMPK, insulin, TNF-α, and lipid metabolism pathways as per network pharmacology analysis. In the interaction network, ACC1, SOD2, COX2, PKC-B, IR, and ROCK1 proteins had the most frequent interactions with the six compounds. We performed visual molecular docking in silico and experimentally confirmed competitive component-protein binding by SPR and an enzyme activity test, which highlighted the relationships of wogonin to COX2 and SOD2, astragaloside IV to ACC1, and morroniside to ACC1. We concluded that the potential synergistic mechanism of the Gandi capsule resulted from high affinities with multiple proteins and intervention in multiple pathways in combination therapy of diabetic nephropathy.

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Gong Feipeng ◽  
Xie Luxin ◽  
Chen Beili ◽  
Yang Songhong ◽  
Wu Wenting ◽  
...  

Ziziphi Spinosae Semen (ZSS) is a common natural medicine used to treat insomnia, and to show clearly its method of action, we managed and did an in-depth discussion. Network pharmacology research is very suitable for the analysis of multiple components, multiple targets, and multiple pathways of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). According to the relevant theory, we first carefully collected and screened the active ingredients in ZSS and received 11 active ingredients that may work. The targets going along with these active components were also strongly related to insomnia targets, 108 common genes were identified, and drug-compound-gene symbol-disease visualization network and protein-protein interaction network were constructed. Forty-eight core genes were identified by PPI analysis and subjected to GO functional analysis with KEGG pathway analysis. The results of GO analysis pointed that there were 998 gene ontology items for the treatment of insomnia, including terms of 892 biological processes, 47 cellular components, and 59 molecular functions. It mainly shows the coupling effect and transport mode of some proteins in the biological pathways of ZSS in the treatment of insomnia and explains the mechanism of action through the connection between the target and the cell biomembrane. KEGG enrichment analyzed 19 signaling pathways, which were collectively classified into seven categories. We have identified the potential pathways of ZSS against insomnia and obtained the regulatory relationship between core genes and pathways and know that the same target can be regulated by multiple components at the same time. The results of molecular docking also prove this conclusion. We sought to provide a new analytical approach to explore TCM treatments for diseases using network pharmacology analysis tools.


PeerJ ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. e10107
Author(s):  
Wei Ren ◽  
Zhiqiang Luo ◽  
Fulu Pan ◽  
Jiali Liu ◽  
Qin Sun ◽  
...  

Venenum Bufonis (VB), also called Chan Su in China, has been extensively used as a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for treating heart failure (HF) since ancient time. However, the active components and the potential anti-HF mechanism of VB remain unclear. In the current study, the major absorbed components and metabolites of VB after oral administration in rats were first collected from literatures. A total of 17 prototypes and 25 metabolites were gathered. Next, a feasible network-based pharmacological approach was developed and employed to explore the therapeutic mechanism of VB on HF based on the collected constituents. In total, 158 main targets were screened out and considered as effective players in ameliorating HF. Then, the VB components–main HF putative targets–main pathways network was established, clarifying the underlying biological process of VB on HF. More importantly, the main hubs were found to be highly enriched in adrenergic signalling in cardio-myocytes. After verified by molecular docking studies, four key targets (ATP1A1, GNAS, MAPK1 and PRKCA) and three potential active leading compounds (bufotalin, cinobufaginol and 19-oxo-bufalin) were identified, which may play critical roles in cardiac muscle contraction. This study demonstrated that the integrated strategy based on network pharmacology and molecular docking was helpful to uncover the synergistic mechanism of multiple constituents in TCM.


2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (5) ◽  
pp. 1934578X2110167
Author(s):  
Xing-Pan Wu ◽  
Tian-Shun Wang ◽  
Zi-Xin Yuan ◽  
Yan-Fang Yang ◽  
He-Zhen Wu

Objective To explore the anti-COVID-19 active components and mechanism of Compound Houttuynia mixture by using network pharmacology and molecular docking. Methods First, the main chemical components of Compound Houttuynia mixture were obtained by using the TCMSP database and referring to relevant chemical composition literature. The components were screened for OB ≥30% and DL ≥0.18 as the threshold values. Then Swiss Target Prediction database was used to predict the target of the active components and map the targets of COVID-19 obtained through GeneCards database to obtain the gene pool of the potential target of COVID-19 resistance of the active components of Compound Houttuynia mixture. Next, DAVID database was used for GO enrichment and KEGG pathway annotation of targets function. Cytoscape 3.8.0 software was used to construct a “components-targets-pathways” network. Then String database was used to construct a “protein-protein interaction” network. Finally, the core targets, SARS-COV-2 3 Cl, ACE2 and the core active components of Compound Houttuyna Mixture were imported into the Discovery Studio 2016 Client database for molecular docking verification. Results Eighty-two active compounds, including Xylostosidine, Arctiin, ZINC12153652 and ZINC338038, were screened from Compound Houttuyniae mixture. The key targets involved 128 targets, including MAPK1, MAPK3, MAPK8, MAPK14, TP53, TNF, and IL6. The HIF-1 signaling, VEGF signaling, TNF signaling and another 127 signaling pathways associated with COVID-19 were affected ( P < 0.05). From the results of molecular docking, the binding ability between the selected active components and the core targets was strong. Conclusion Through the combination of network pharmacology and molecular docking technology, this study revealed that the therapeutic effect of Compound Houttuynia mixture on COVID-19 was realized through multiple components, multiple targets and multiple pathways, which provided a certain scientific basis of the clinical application of Compound Houttuynia mixture.


2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sha Di ◽  
Lin Han ◽  
Qing Wang ◽  
Xinkui Liu ◽  
Yingying Yang ◽  
...  

Shen-Qi-Di-Huang decoction (SQDHD), a well-known herbal formula from China, has been widely used in the treatment of diabetic nephropathy (DN). However, the pharmacological mechanisms of SQDHD have not been entirely elucidated. At first, we conducted a comprehensive literature search to identify the active constituents of SQDHD, determined their corresponding targets, and obtained known DN targets from several databases. A protein-protein interaction network was then built to explore the complex relations between SQDHD targets and those known to treat DN. Following the topological feature screening of each node in the network, 400 major targets of SQDHD were obtained. The pathway enrichment analysis results acquired from DAVID showed that the significant bioprocesses and pathways include oxidative stress, response to glucose, regulation of blood pressure, regulation of cell proliferation, cytokine-mediated signaling pathway, and the apoptotic signaling pathway. More interestingly, five key targets of SQDHD, named AKT1, AR, CTNNB1, EGFR, and ESR1, were significant in the regulation of the above bioprocesses and pathways. This study partially verified and predicted the pharmacological and molecular mechanisms of SQDHD on DN from a holistic perspective. This has laid the foundation for further experimental research and has expanded the rational application of SQDHD in clinical practice.


2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xianghui Ma ◽  
Bin Lv ◽  
Pan Li ◽  
Xiaoqing Jiang ◽  
Qian Zhou ◽  
...  

Naoxintong capsule (NXT) is a commercial medicinal product approved by the China Food and Drug Administration which is used in the treatment of stroke and coronary heart disease. However, the research on the composition and mechanism of NXT is still lacking. Our research aimed to identify the absorbable components, potential targets, and associated pathways of NXT with network pharmacology method. We explored the chemical compositions of NXT based on UPLC/Q-TOF-MS. Then, we used the five principles of drug absorption to identify absorbable ingredients. The databases of PharmMapper, Universal Protein, and the Molecule Annotation System were used to predict the main targets and related pathways. By the five principles of drug absorption as a judgment rule, we identified 63 compositions that could be absorbed in the blood in all 81 chemical compositions. Based on the constructed networks by the significant regulated 123 targets and 77 pathways, the main components that mediated the efficacy of NXT were organic acids, saponins, and tanshinones. Radix Astragali was the critical herbal medicine in NXT, which contained more active components than other herbs and regulated more targets and pathways. Our results showed that NXT had a therapeutic effect on heart diseases through the pattern “multiple components-multiple targets-multiple pathways.”


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qinfang Zheng ◽  
Liangzi Fang ◽  
Xiaolong Huang ◽  
Ye Wang ◽  
Shuihan Zhang

Abstract BackgroundSeveral species of the medicinally valuable genus Lobelia (Campanulaceae) exhibit neuroprotection. While the neuroprotective mechanisms of some components (e.g. lobeline, lobelanine, and lobelanidine) belonging to the L. nicotianaefolia or L. inflata are extensively characterized, there remains the need to study and elucidate the mechanism of action of other species and their active components. In this work, we have studied the neuroprotective mechanism of the pharmacokinetically favorable active compounds of 17 Lobelia species.MethodsNetwork pharmacology approach and molecular modeling were employed. We have conducted drug-likeness evaluation, oral bioavailability prediction followed by the Gene Ontology (GO) terms and pathways enrichment analysis, protein-protein and protein-compound interaction network construction and analysis, and molecular docking studies. Five neurodegenerative diseases viz. Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, epilepsy, and Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis along with the common neuroprotection mechanism-associated genes were evaluated.ResultsWe revealed the neuroprotective mechanism of the active ingredients of Lobelia species. Our study strongly indicates that 12 unique active ingredients viz. luteolin, kaempferol, acacetin, chryseriol, norlobelanine, lobelanine, 2-[(2R,6S)-6-[(2R)-2-hydroxy-2-phenylethyl]-1-methylpiperidin-2-yl]-1-phenylethanone, hydroxygenkwanin, lobelanidine, quercetin, and diosmetin regulates 31 targets within multiple signaling pathways. The nitric oxide synthase, brain (NOS1), androgen receptor (ANDR), sodium- and chloride-dependent GABA transporter 1 (SC6A1), apoptosis regulator Bcl-2 (BCL2), RAC-alpha serine/threonine-protein kinase (AKT1), cellular tumor antigen p53, apoptosis regulator BAX, and tumor necrosis factor (TNFA) were identified as the majorly regulated genes. A majority of these target proteins act via several cancer-related pathways proven to have cross-talks with the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases.ConclusionsThis study explains how the active ingredients of the Lobelia species exhibit their neuroprotective actions and provide a reference basis to investigate their pharmacological effects in detail.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Jingxue Han ◽  
Xinwei Wang ◽  
Jingyi Hou ◽  
Yu Liu ◽  
Peng Liu ◽  
...  

Objective. The mechanism of peach kernel-safflower in treating diabetic nephropathy (DN) was investigated using network pharmacology. Methods. Network pharmacology methodology was applied to screen the effective compounds of peach kernel-safflower in the SymMap and TCMSP databases. Potential targets were then screened in the ETCM, SEA, and SymMap databases to construct a compound-target network. This was followed by screening of DN targets in OMIM, Gene, and GeneCards databases. The common targets of drugs and diseases were selected for analysis in the STRING database, and the results were imported into Cytoscape 3.8.0 to construct a protein-protein interaction network. Next, GO and KEGG enrichment analyses were performed. Finally, Schrödinger molecular docking verified the reliability of the results. Results. A total of 23 effective compounds and 794 potential targets resulted from our screening process. Quercetin and luteolin were identified as the main effective ingredients in peach kernel-safflower. Furthermore, five key targets (VEGFA, IL6, TNF, AKT1, and TP53), AGE-RAGE, fluid shear stress and atherosclerosis, IL-17, and HIF-1 signaling pathways may be involved in the treatment of DN using peach kernel-safflower. Conclusions. This study embodies the complex network relationship of multicomponents, multitargets, and multipathways of peach kernel-safflower to treat DN and provides a basis for further research on its mechanism.


2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (9) ◽  
pp. 1934578X2110352
Author(s):  
Tian-Shun Wang ◽  
Xing-Pan Wu ◽  
Qiu-Yuan Jian ◽  
Yan-Fang Yang ◽  
Wu He-Zhen

Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) once caused great harm in China, but now it is the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic that has become a huge threat to global health, which raises urgent demand for developing effective treatment strategies to avoid the recurrence of tragedies. Yinqiao powder, combined with modified Sangju decoction (YPCMSD), has been clinically proven to have a good therapeutic effect on COVID-19 in China. This study aimed to analyze the common mechanism of YPCMSD in the treatment of SARS and COVID-19 through network pharmacology and molecular docking and further explore the potential application value of YPCMSD in the treatment of coronavirus infections. Firstly, the active components were collected from the literature and Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology database platform. The COVID-19 and SARS associated targets of the active components were forecasted by the SwissTargetPrediction database and GeneCards. A protein–protein-interaction network was drawn and the core targets were obtained by selecting the targets larger than the average degree. By importing the core targets into database for annotation, visualization, and integrated discovery, enrichment analysis of gene ontology, and construction of a Kyoto Encyclopedia of genes and genomes pathway was conducted. Cytoscape 3.6.1 software was used to construct a “components–targets–pathways” network. Active components were selected to dock with acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 (SARS-COV-2) 3CL and angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) through Discovery Studio 2016 software. A network of “components–targets–pathways” was successfully constructed, with key targets involving mitogen-activated protein kinase 1, caspase-3 (CASP3), tumor necrosis factor (TNF), and interleukin 6. Major metabolic pathways affected were those in cancer, the hypoxia-inducible factor 1 signaling pathway, the TNF signaling pathway, the Toll-like receptor signaling pathway, and the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway. The core components, such as arctiin, scopolin, linarin, and isovitexin, showed a strong binding ability with SARS-COV-2 3CL and ACE2. We predicted that the mechanism of action of this prescription in the treatment of COVID-19 and SARS might be associated with multicomponents that bind to SARS-COV-2 3CL and ACE2, thereby regulating targets that coexpressed with them and pathways related to inflammation and the immune system.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ying-Peng Tong ◽  
Xiao-Fei Shen ◽  
Qi Zhou ◽  
Chun-Xiao Jiang ◽  
Na Li ◽  
...  

AbstractThe outbreak of novel coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19), defined as a worldwide pandemic, has been a public health emergency of international concern. Pudilanxiaoyan oral liquid (PDL), an effective drug of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), is considered to be an effective and alternative means for clinical prevention of COVID-19. The purpose of this study was to identify potential active constituents of PDL, and explore its underlying anti-COVID-19 mechanism using network pharmacology. Integration of target prediction (SwissTargetPrediction and STITCH database) was used to elucidate the active components of PDL. Protein–protein interaction network analyses, gene ontology, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment analyses, network construction, and molecular docking were applied to analyze the prospective mechanisms of the predicted target genes. Our results showed that the key active ingredients in PDL were luteolin, apigenin, esculetin, chrysin, baicalein, oroxylin A, baicalin, wogonin, cymaroside, and gallic acid. A majority of the predicted targets were mainly involved in the pathways related to viral infection, lung injury, and inflammatory responses. An in vitro study further inferred that inhibiting the activity of nuclear factor (NF)-кB signaling pathway was a key mechanism by which PDL exerted anti-COVID-19 effects. This study not only provides chemical basis and pharmacology of PDL but also the rationale for strategies to exploring future TCM for COVID-19 therapy.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-18
Author(s):  
Chunli Piao ◽  
Qi Zhang ◽  
De Jin ◽  
Li Wang ◽  
Cheng Tang ◽  
...  

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is one of the most common complications of diabetes mellitus. Owing to its complicated pathogenesis, no satisfactory treatment strategies for DN are available. Milkvetch Root is a common traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and has been extensively used to treat DN in clinical practice in China for many years. However, due to the complexity of botanical ingredients, the exact pharmacological mechanism of Milkvetch Root in treating DN has not been completely elucidated. The aim of this study was to explore the active components and potential mechanism of Milkvetch Root by using a systems pharmacology approach. First, the components and targets of Milkvetch Root were analyzed by using the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology database. We found the common targets of Milkvetch Root and DN constructed a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network using STRING and screened the key targets via topological analysis. Enrichment of Gene Ontology (GO) pathways and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways were analyzed. Subsequently, major hubs were identified and imported to the Database for Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery for pathway enrichment analysis. The binding activity and targets of the active components of Milkvetch Root were verified by using the molecular docking software SYBYL. Finally, we found 20 active components in Milkvetch Root. Moreover, the enrichment analysis of GO and KEGG pathways suggested that AGE-RAGE signaling pathway, HIF-1 signaling pathway, PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, and TNF signaling pathway might be the key pathways for the treatment of DN; more importantly, 10 putative targets of Milkvetch Root (AKT1, VEGFA, IL-6, PPARG, CCL2, NOS3, SERPINE1, CRP, ICAM1, and SLC2A) were identified to be of great significance in regulating these biological processes and pathways. This study provides an important scientific basis for further elucidating the mechanism of Milkvetch Root in treating DN.


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