scholarly journals Network Pharmacology-Based Investigation of the Therapeutic Mechanisms of Action of Danning Tablets in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Tong Lin ◽  
Li Li ◽  
Caijun Liang ◽  
Lisheng Peng
Keyword(s):  
Liver Disease ◽  
Fatty Liver ◽  
Bioactive Compounds ◽  
Fatty Liver Disease ◽  
Enrichment Analysis ◽  
Functional Enrichment Analysis ◽  
Mechanisms Of Action ◽  
Functional Enrichment ◽  
Network Pharmacology ◽  
Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a rising global public health concern due to its prevalence. Danning Tablets (DNt), a composite prescription of Chinese herbal medicine, shows significant curative effects on NAFLD in clinical application. This study aimed to decipher the bioactive substances and potential mechanisms of action of DNt in the treatment of NAFLD, applying an integrated network pharmacology approach. First, the bioactive compounds of DNt were screened based on their pharmacokinetic properties, and the corresponding drug targets were predicted. Then, the NAFLD-related targets were collected. The overlapping targets between the putative targets of DNt and NAFLD-related targets were identified as the potential therapeutic targets of DNt against NAFLD. Subsequently, the networks were constructed and analyzed, and the key bioactive compounds and targets were screened out depending on their importance in the networks. Functional enrichment analysis was carried out to elucidate the potential mechanisms of DNt acting on NAFLD. Finally, a molecular docking simulation was implemented to assess the potential binding affinity between the key targets and the bioactive compounds. As a result, 43 bioactive compounds of DNt and 69 putative targets were identified. Based on the network analysis, we found seven key bioactive compounds (quercetin, ß-sitosterol, luteolin, kaempferol, supraene, curcumenolactone C, and stigmasterol) of DNt might treat NAFLD via intervening IL6, MAPK8, VEGFA, CASP3, ALB, APP, MYC, PPARG, and RELA. The functional enrichment analysis revealed that DNt might affect NAFLD by modulating the signaling pathways involved in lipid metabolism, inflammation, oxidation, insulin resistance (IR), atherosclerosis, and apoptosis. Furthermore, most key bioactive compounds might bind firmly with the key targets. This study predicted the multicomponent, multitarget, and multipathway mechanisms of DNt in the treatment of NAFLD from a holistic perspective. DNt could be a promising agent for NAFLD, but further experimental verifications are still needed.

scholarly journals Identify Molecular Mechanisms of Jiangzhi Decoction on Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease by Network Pharmacology Analysis and Experimental Validation

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-16
Author(s):  
Lei Wang ◽  
Yin Zhi ◽  
Ying Ye ◽  
Miao Zhang ◽  
Xing Ma ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Liver Disease ◽  
Fatty Liver Disease ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Enrichment Analysis ◽  
Functional Enrichment Analysis ◽  
Functional Enrichment ◽  
Active Ingredients ◽  
Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver ◽  
The Core

Background. Jiangzhi Decoction (JZD), a traditional herb mixture, has shown significant clinical efficacy against nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). However, its multicomponent and multitarget characteristics bring difficulty in deciphering its pharmacological mechanisms. Our study is aimed at identifying the core molecular mechanisms of JZD against NAFLD. Methods. The active ingredients were searched from Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology (TCMSP) database and Traditional Chinese Medicine Integrated Database (TCMID). The targets of those ingredients were identified using ChemMapper database based on 3D structure similarity. NAFLD-related genes were searched from DisGeNET database and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Then, we performed protein-protein interaction (PPI) analysis, functional enrichment analysis, and constructed pathway networks of “herbs-active ingredients-candidate targets” and identified the core molecular mechanisms and key active ingredients in the network. Also, molecular docking was carried out to predict the ligands of candidate targets using SwissDock. Finally, the human hepatic L02 cell line was used to establish the NAFLD model in vitro. The effect and key molecules were validated by Oil Red O staining, biochemical assays, and quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). Results. We found 147 active ingredients in JZD, 1285 targets of active ingredients, 401 NAFLD-related genes, and 59 overlapped candidate targets of JZD against NAFLD. 22 core targets were obtained by PPI analysis. Finally, nuclear receptor transcription and lipid metabolism regulation were found as the core molecular mechanisms of JZD against NAFLD by functional enrichment analysis. The candidate targets PPARα and LXRα were both docked with hyperin as the most favorable interaction, and HNF4α was docked with linolenic acid ethyl ester. According to in vitro experiments, it was found that JZD had an inhibitory effect on lipid accumulation and regulatory effects on cholesterol and triglycerides. Compared with OA group, the mRNA expression levels of PPARα and HNF4α were significantly upregulated in JZD group ( P < 0.05 ), and LXRα was significantly downregulated ( P < 0.001 ). Conclusion. JZD might alleviate hepatocyte steatosis by regulating some key molecules related to nuclear receptor transcription and lipid metabolism, such as PPARα, LXRα, and HNF4α. Our study will provide the scientific evidences of the clinical efficacy of JZD against NAFLD.

scholarly journals Network Pharmacology-Based Analysis of Pogostemon cablin (Blanco) Benth Beneficial Effects to Alleviate Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Mice

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yizhe Cui ◽  
Qiuju Wang ◽  
Renxu Chang ◽  
Ahmad Aboragah ◽  
Juan J. Loor ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Liver Disease ◽  
Fatty Liver ◽  
Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease ◽  
Lipid Accumulation ◽  
Fatty Liver Disease ◽  
Network Pharmacology ◽  
Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver ◽  
Pogostemon Cablin ◽  
Anti Oxidant ◽  
Anti Inflammatory

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common cause of chronic liver disease and is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Pogostemon cablin (Blanco) Benth/Huo Xiang (HX) is a perennial herb with unique anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, and thus, can positively affect liver function. In this study, we used network pharmacology to predict the potential mechanism of HX on NAFLD. Pharmacological experiments were used to verify the effect of HX on the functions of NAFLD. Network pharmacology identified nine components that interacted with 82 NAFLD-related targets, revealing four target genes: TNF, IL6, TP53, and AKT1. HX prevents the development and progression of NAFLD through different pathways and targets with quercetin-regulated lipid metabolism, anti-inflammatory, and anti-oxidant pathways playing an essential role in the treatment of NAFLD. Compared with feeding HFD, HX significantly attenuated lipid accumulation in vivo with mice and also in vitro with mouse liver cells. A high dose of HX decreased hepatocyte lipid accumulation and the abundance of SREBF1 and FASN. Validation experiments revealed that HX inhibited the activation of NF-κB/IκB signaling and decreased the release and levels of pro-inflammatory factors (TNF-α and IL-6). These data suggest that HX can attenuate abnormal lipid metabolic responses and enhance antioxidant mechanisms. Thus, the pharmacological effects from plants used in traditional Chinese medicine are achievde through a multi-level response.

scholarly journals Gynostemma pentaphyllum Attenuates the Progression of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Mice: A Biomedical Investigation Integrated with In Silico Assay

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ming Hong ◽  
Zhe Cai ◽  
Lei Song ◽  
Yongqiang Liu ◽  
Qi Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Liver Disease ◽  
Fatty Liver ◽  
Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease ◽  
In Silico ◽  
Fatty Liver Disease ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Network Pharmacology ◽  
Gynostemma Pentaphyllum ◽  
Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver ◽  
Mitochondrial Fatty Acid

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common type of liver disease in developed countries. Oxidative stress plays a critical role in the progression of NAFLD. Modern pharmacological study and clinical trials have demonstrated the remarkable antioxidant activity of Gynostemma pentaphyllum (GP) in chronic liver disease. One aim of this study was to explore the potential protective effects and mechanisms of action of GP extract on NAFLD. The in vivo results showed that GP extract could alleviate fatty degeneration and haptic fibrosis in NAFLD mice. For exploring the hepatoprotective mechanisms of GP, we used network pharmacology to predict the potential active components of GP and their intracellular targets in NAFLD. Based on the network pharmacology results, we further utilized biomedical assays to validate this in silico prediction. The results showed that Gypenoside XL could upregulate the protein level of PPARα in NAFLD; the transcription level of several PPARα downstream target genes such as acyl-CoA oxidase (ACO) and carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1 (CPT-1) also increased after Gypenoside XL treatment. The overexpression of ACO and CPT-1 may involve the hepatoprotective effects of GP and Gypenoside XL on NAFLD by regulating mitochondrial fatty acid β-oxidation.

scholarly journals Research on the Mechanism of Qushi Huayu Decoction in the Intervention of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Based on Network Pharmacology and Molecular Docking Technology

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Shan-shan Gao ◽  
Ji-jia Sun ◽  
Xin Wang ◽  
Yi-yang Hu ◽  
Qin Feng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Docking ◽  
Liver Disease ◽  
Fatty Liver ◽  
Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease ◽  
Signaling Pathway ◽  
Active Ingredient ◽  
Fatty Liver Disease ◽  
Network Pharmacology ◽  
Chemical Components ◽  
Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver

Objective. To use network pharmacology and molecular docking technology in predicting the main active ingredients and targets of Qushi Huayu Decoction (QHD) treatment in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) and explore the potential mechanisms of its multi-component-multi-target-multi-pathway. Materials and Methods. The main chemical components of QHD were searched using traditional Chinese medicine system pharmacology technology platform (TCMSP) and PubChem database. The main chemical components of the prescription were ADMET screened by the ACD/Labs software. The main active ingredient was screened by 60% oral bioavailability, and 60% of “bad” ingredients were removed from the drug-like group. Swiss Target Prediction, the SEA, and HitPick systems were sequentially used to search for the target of each active ingredient, and a network map of the QHD’s target of the active ingredient was constructed. Genome annotation database platforms (GeneCards, OMIM, and DisGeNET) were used to predict action targets related to fatty liver disease. “Drug-Disease-Target” network diagram could be visualized with the help of Cytoscape (3.7.1) software. UniProt and STRING database platforms were used to build a protein interaction network. The KEGG signal pathway and DAVID platform were analyzed for biological process enrichment. Results. A total of 128 active ingredients and 275 corresponding targets in QHD were discovered through screening. 55 key target targets and 27 important signaling pathways were screened, such as the cancer pathway, P13K-AKT signaling pathway, PPAR signaling pathway, and other related signaling pathways. Conclusions. The present study revealed the material basis of QHD and discussed the pharmacological mechanism of QHD in fatty liver, thus providing a scientific basis for the clinical application and experimental research of QHD in the future.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document