scholarly journals The Research on Huanglian Jiedu Decoction against Atopic Dermatitis

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Yu-Bin Xu

Objective. Study on the pharmacodynamic basis and mechanism of Huanglian Jiedu Decoction against atopic dermatitis (AD). Methods. Based on network pharmacology, the targets of Huanglian Jiedu Decoction and AD were screened by Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform (TCMSP), SwissTargetPrediction databases, and the database of Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM), Therapeutic Targets Database (TTD) and the Comparative Toxicogenomics Database (CTD); then, “chemical composition-target-related pathway-disease target” network graph of Huanglian Jiedu Decoction against AD was constructed by using STRING and Cytoscape software. In combination with in vitro experiments, the levels of IL-4, IL-6, and IL-10 in T cells were determined by ELISA; the pharmacodynamic basis and mechanism of Huanglian Jiedu Decoction against AD were preliminarily explored. Results. 81 active ingredients in Huanglian Jiedu Decoction were screened by network pharmacology, 31 of which were related to atopic dermatitis, corresponding to 12 target proteins. A total of 14 pathways were obtained by KEGG pathway analysis, and 8 were associated with atopic dermatitis. Compared with the control group, 20 and 40 µg/ml of Huanglian Jiedu Decoction could significantly reduce the contents of IL-4, IL-6, and IL-10 in T lymphocytes of mice with atopic dermatitis ( p < 0.01 ). Conclusion. Huanglian Jiedu Decoction can act against AD by multicomponent, multitarget, and multichannel mode of action.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jingjing Da ◽  
Xiangyan Zhang ◽  
Fa Sun ◽  
Kui Zhang ◽  
Xianchun Zeng ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: The coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) outbreak on December 2019.The present study was aimed to explore the therapeutic effects and the network pharmacology mechanism of Chinese herbs in COVID-19 patients.Methods: In this retrospective study, demographic, clinical signs, radiography, and laboratory of 78 patients were analysis from patients' medical records. Network pharmacology was applied to characterize the action mechanism of herbs decoction. Results: Of all patients were imported cases with familial aggregation. Survival analysis showed that the proportion of cough (χ2 =3.864, P=0.049) and fever (χ2 =5.549, P=0.018) in TCM group declined faster than control group. There was a significant radiographic lesions remission difference between groups (χ2 =7.666, P=0.006). After adjusted by baseline data, the changes of Lymphocytes, ALT and LDH were greater in TCM group (P=0.023, 0.005, 0.015, respectively). A total of 1852 ingredients in 13 herbs were obtained, among which, the ingredients-target network included 168 compounds and 189 targets, 38 GO terms and 63 pathways were found in enrichment analysis. Conclusion: The therapeutic effect of Chinese herbs was amelioration of cough and fever, facilitated the absorption of inflammatory infiltrates seen in the lungs, and increased the number of lymphocytes, protection of liver function via the mechanism of inhibition of coronavirus attack organs and immune cells directly. Molecular mechanisms need to be further validate in vitro and vivo.


2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (7) ◽  
pp. 1441-1448
Author(s):  
Jinyan Jiang ◽  
Susu Lin ◽  
Qiaoqiao Li ◽  
Shanshan Jiang ◽  
Yingjie Hu ◽  
...  

Purpose: To investigate the comparative anti-thrombotic effects of saffron and Honghua, and also to explore possible mechanisms in thrombosis based on network pharmacology. Methods: A network pharmacology model was used for bioactive components, targets and pathways for saffron and HongHua via Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform (TCMSP), PharmMapper, Genecard, Uniprot and KEGG databases. In animal experiments, 72 rats were randomly divided into 9 groups: normal control group (NC), model control group (MC), crocetin groups (80, 40, 20 mg/kg), hydroxysafflor yellow A(HSYA) groups (80, 40, 20 mg/kg), and aspirin group (40 mg/kg). Using in vitro thrombosis models and an acute blood stasis model in vivo, the anti-thrombotic effects of these treatments on clotting time, hemorheology parameters, Thromboxane B2 (TXB2), plasmin activator inhibitor (PAI), protein C (PC), protein S (PS), and thrombinantithrombin complex (TAT) were determined and comparisons made for saffron and HongHua. Results: Five potential compounds, 16 anti-thrombotic targets and 27 pathways were predicted for saffron, while 22 compounds, 37 disease targets and 35 pathways were found for HongHua (p < 0.05). Pharmacological experiments revealed that crocetin and HSYA had significant effects on thrombus length, thrombus wet/dry mass, whole blood viscosity (WBV), erythrocyte aggregation index (EAI), clotting time and D-dimer for the high and middle groups. Unlike HSYA, crocetin also had significant and dose-dependent effects on PAI, prothrombin fragment 1+2 (F1+2) and PS and had highly significant effects on TXB2 and TAT. Conclusion: This research provides a systematic, comprehensive and comparative analysis of component, target and anti-thrombotic pathways of saffron and HongHua based on network pharmacology, and also shows that saffron has more significant anti-thrombotic effect than HongHua. Keywords: Saffron; HongHua; Network pharmacology; Anti-thrombosis; Network model


2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Wei Zhang ◽  
Mingti Lv ◽  
Yating Shi ◽  
Yonghui Mu ◽  
Zhaoyang Yao ◽  
...  

Background. Huangqi Sijunzi decoction (HQSJZD) is a commonly used conventional Chinese herbal medicine prescription for invigorating Qi, tonifying Yang, and removing dampness. Modern pharmacology and clinical applications of HQSJZD have shown that it has a certain curative effect on Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Methods. The active components and targets of HQSJZD were searched in the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform (TCMSP). The genes corresponding to the targets were retrieved using UniProt and GeneCard database. The herb-compound-target network and protein-protein interaction (PPI) network were constructed by Cytoscape. The core targets of HQSJZD were analysed by Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG). The main active compounds of HQSJZD were docked with acetylcholinesterase (AChE). In vitro experiments were conducted to detect the inhibitory and neuroprotective effects of AChE. Results. Compound-target network mainly contained 132 compounds and 255 corresponding targets. The main compounds contained quercetin, kaempferol, formononetin, isorhamnetin, hederagenin, and calycosin. Key targets contained AChE, PTGS2, PPARG, IL-1B, GSK3B, etc. There were 1708 GO items in GO enrichment analysis and 310 signalling pathways in KEGG, mainly including the cAMP signalling pathway, the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signalling pathway, serotonergic synapses, the calcium signalling pathway, type II diabetes mellitus, arginine and proline metabolism, and the longevity regulating pathway. Molecular docking showed that hederagenin and formononetin were the top 2 compounds of HQSJZD, which had a high affinity with AChE. And formononetin has a good neuroprotective effect, which can improve the oxidative damage of nerve cells. Conclusion. HQSJZD was found to have the potential to treat AD by targeting multiple AD-related targets. Formononetin and hederagenin in HQSJZD may regulate multiple signalling pathways through AChE, which might play a therapeutic role in AD.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Hongmei Lu ◽  
Xinyi Luo ◽  
Yuhua He ◽  
Bo Qu ◽  
Liangbin Zhao ◽  
...  

Background. Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common clinically critical illness with serious consequences for the patients. Shenshuaikang enema (SE) is a Chinese herbal compound that is used to treat AKI in clinical practice. However, its mechanism of action remains unclear. Aim. The aim of this study was to investigate the therapeutic effect of SE and explore the molecular mechanisms using network pharmacology and in vitro experiments. Materials and Methods. The herb-component-target network was constructed based on network pharmacology. The predicted targets and pathways were validated using in vitro experiments. A renal tubular epithelial cell line (HK-2 cells) was exposed to hypoxia and reoxygenation (H/R) using air-tight conditions for five hours and treated with different concentrations of SE (25%, 50%, and 75%) to assess cell viability and apoptosis and determine the optimal experimental dose. Subsequently, H/R-injured HK-2 cells were pretreated with the optimal SE dose and then randomly divided into three groups, the SE, SE-SP600125 (inhibitor of JNK), and SE-NAC (antioxidant) groups. The cell vitality, apoptosis, and death were evaluated using the cell counting kit 8 (CCK8) and carboxyfluorescein succinimidyl ester/propidium iodide (CFSF/PI) staining. The apoptosis-related protein JNK and Caspase-3 were assessed by Western blot. Expression of JNK and Caspase-3 genes was analyzed using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Results. 123 active components and 226 targets were identified from four herbs that composed the herb-compound-target network based on transcriptomics and network pharmacology analyses. The KEGG pathway analyses revealed that the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway was involved in the therapeutic AKI effects of SE. Cell vitality of H/R-induced HK-2 cells was obviously increased when treating them with SE, and the apoptosis was significantly inhibited, especially in the SE (50%) group at 4 and 12 h after modeling. Pretreatment with antioxidant NAC obviously prevented cell death compared to the SE (50%) group, while no obvious reduction of apoptosis was observed in the SP600125 group. JNK expression level was significantly increased in the SE (50%) group compared to the SP600125 ( P < 0.01 ) and the NAC group ( P < 0.05 ). Caspase-3 was downregulated in the SE (50%) group compared to the SP600125 ( P < 0.01 ) and NAC group ( P < 0.05 ). Caspase-3 activation in the SP600125 group was higher than that in the NAC group ( P < 0.05 ). Moreover, the oxidative damage-dependent JNK/Caspase-3 pathway was identified in the H/R-injured HK-2 cells by inhibiting the JNK activation and oxidative damage. Conclusions. Our findings suggested that the H/R-triggered apoptosis in HK-2 cells was abrogated by SE by upregulating the oxidative damage-dependent JNK to trigger suppression of Caspase-3.


Plants ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. 1166
Author(s):  
Man Chu ◽  
Miranda Sin-Man Tsang ◽  
Ru He ◽  
Christopher Wai-Kei Lam ◽  
Zhi Bo Quan ◽  
...  

To examine the molecular targets and therapeutic mechanism of a clinically proven Chinese medicinal pentaherbs formula (PHF) in atopic dermatitis (AD), we analyzed the active compounds and core targets, performed network and molecular docking analysis, and investigated interacting pathways. Information on compounds in PHF was obtained from the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology (TCMSP) database, and target prediction was performed using the Drugbank database. AD-related genes were gathered using the GeneCards and Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM) databases. Network analysis was performed by Cytoscape software and protein-protein interaction was analyzed by the Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes/Proteins (STRING). The Database for Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery (DAVID) Bioinformatics Resources were applied for the enrichment analysis of the potential biological process and pathways associated with the intersection targets between PHF and AD. Autodock software was used to perform protein compound docking analysis. We identified 43 active compounds in PHF associated with 117 targets, and 57 active compounds associated with 107 targets that form the main pathways linked to oral and topical treatment of AD, respectively. Among them, quercetin, luteolin, and kaempferol are key chemicals targeting the core genes involved in the oral use of PHF against AD, while apigenin, ursolic acid, and rosmarinic acid could be used in topical treatment of PHF against AD. The compound–target–disease network constructed in the current study reveals close interactions between multiple components and multiple targets. Enrichment analysis further supports the biological processes and signaling pathways identified, indicating the involvement of IL-17 and tumor necrosis factor signaling pathways in the action of PHF on AD. Our data demonstrated the main compounds and potential pharmacological mechanisms of oral and topical application of PHF in AD.


Biomolecules ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 362 ◽  
Author(s):  
Won-Yung Lee ◽  
Choong-Yeol Lee ◽  
Youn-Sub Kim ◽  
Chang-Eop Kim

Natural products, including traditional herbal medicine (THM), are known to exert their therapeutic effects by acting on multiple targets, so researchers have employed network pharmacology methods to decipher the potential mechanisms of THM. To conduct THM-network pharmacology (THM-NP) studies, researchers have employed different tools and databases for constructing and analyzing herb–compound–target networks. In this study, we attempted to capture the methodological trends in THM-NP research. We identified the tools and databases employed to conduct THM-NP studies and visualized their combinatorial patterns. We also constructed co-author and affiliation networks to further understand how the methodologies are employed among researchers. The results showed that the number of THM-NP studies and employed databases/tools have been dramatically increased in the last decade, and there are characteristic patterns in combining methods of each analysis step in THM-NP studies. Overall, the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform (TCMSP) was the most frequently employed network pharmacology database in THM-NP studies. Among the processes involved in THM-NP research, the methodology for constructing a compound–target network has shown the greatest change over time. In summary, our analysis describes comprehensive methodological trends and current ideas in research design for network pharmacology researchers.


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nikhil S. Sakle ◽  
Shweta A. More ◽  
Santosh N. Mokale

Abstract Caesalpinia pulcherima (CP) is a traditional herb used for the treatment of asthma, bronchitis, cancer, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and as abortifacient. In the present study, bioactive components and potential targets in the treatment of breast cancer validated through in silico, in vitro and in vivo approach. The results for the analysis were as among 29 components, only four components were found active for further study which proved the use of CP as a multi-target herb for betterment of clinical uses. The results found by PPI states that our network has significant interactions which include the ESR-1, ESR-2, ESRRA, MET, VEGF, FGF, PI3K, PDK-1, MAPK, PLK-1, NEK-2, and GRK. Compound-target network involves 4 active compound and 150 target genes which elucidate the mechanisms of drug action in breast cancer treatment. Furthermore, on the basis of the above results the important proteins were fetched for the docking study which helps in predicting the possible interaction between components and targets. The results of the western blotting showed that CP regulates ER and EGFR expression in MCF-7 cell. In addition to this animal experimentation showed that CP significantly improved immunohistological status in MNU induced carcinoma rats. Network pharmacology approach not only helps us to confirm the study of the chosen target but also gave an idea of compound-target network as well as pathways associated to the CP for treating the complex metabolic condition as breast cancer and they importance for experimental verification.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kai Wang ◽  
Lu Lei ◽  
Jinyi Cao ◽  
Yi Qiao ◽  
Ruimin Liang ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Buyang Huanwu Decoction (BYHWD) is one of the representative prescriptions for tonifying qi and promoting blood circulation. This formula has been widely used in Chinese clinical practice for treatment and prevention of ischemic cerebral vascular diseases. However, the mechanism and active compounds of BYHWD used in clinical practice for ischemic stroke are not well understood. The purpose of this study was to understand the potential active components of BYHWD and further explore its mechanism of improving ischemic stroke. Methods: This study was based on network pharmacology and bioinformatics analysis. The compounds of BYHWD were obtained from public databases. Oral bioavailability as well as drug-likeness were screened by using absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) criteria. Then, components of BYHWD, candidate targets of each component and known therapeutic targets of ischemic cerebral were collected. A network of compound-target genes and compound-ischemic cerebral was established by means of network pharmacology data sources. The enrichment of key targets and pathways was analyzed by using string database and DAVID database. In addition, we verified three key targets predicted by western blot analysis (IL6, VEGFA and HIF1A). Results: Network pharmacology analysis results of BYHWD identified 7 herbs, 42 compounds and 79 target genes associated to cerebral ischemia. The 10 key compounds were baicalein, beta-carotene, Baicalin, kaempferol, luteolin, quercetin, hydroxysafflor yellow A, isorhamnetin, Bifendate, formononetin,Calycosin, AstragalosideIV, Stigmasterol, sitosterol, Z-ligustilide, Dihydrocapsaicin. Core genes in this network were IL6, TNF, VEGFA, HIF1A, MAPK1, MAPK3, JUN, STAT3, IL1B and IL10. And pathways TNF, IL-17, Apoptosis, PI3K-Akt, Toll-like receptor, MAPK, NF-kappa B and HIF-1 signaling pathway, etc. related to ischemic stroke were identified. In vitro experiments, The results showed that compared with the control group (no treatment), BYHWD could significantly inhibit the expression of IL6 and increased the expression of HIF1A and VEGFA. Conclusions: Network pharmacology analysis can reveal close interactions between multi-components and multi-targets, and enhance our understanding of the potential effects of BYHWD in cerebral ischemia.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wenning Yang ◽  
Xiaoquan Jiang ◽  
Jingtong Liu ◽  
Dongying Qi ◽  
Zhiqiang Luo ◽  
...  

The study of screening active constituents from traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is important for explicating the mechanism of action of TCM and further evaluating the safety and efficacy effectively. However, detecting and identifying the active constituents from complicated biological samples still remain a challenge. Here, a practical, quick, and novel integrated strategy from in vitro, in situ, in vivo to in silico for rapidly screening the active constituents was developed. Firstly, the chemical profile of TCM in vitro was identified using UPLC-Q Exactive-Orbitrap HRMS. Secondly, the in situ intestinal perfusion with venous sampling (IPVS) method was used to investigate the intestinal absorption components. Thirdly, after intragastric administration of the TCM extract, the in vivo absorbed prototype components were detected and identified. Finally, the target network pharmacology approach was applied to explore the potential targets and possible mechanisms of the absorbed components from TCM. The reliability and availability of this approach was demonstrated using Tongfengding capsule (TFDC) as an example of herbal medicine. A total of 141 compounds were detected and identified in TFDC, and among them, 64 components were absorbed into the plasma. Then, a total of 35 absorbed bioactive components and 50 related targets shared commonly by compounds and gout were integrated via target network pharmacology analysis. Ultimately, the effects of the absorbed components on metabolism pathways were verified by experiments. These results demonstrated that this original method may provide a practical tool for screening bioactive compounds from TCM treating particular diseases. Furthermore, it also can clarify the potential mechanism of action of TCM and rationalize the application of TFDC as an effective herbal therapy for gout.


1990 ◽  
Vol 29 (03) ◽  
pp. 120-124
Author(s):  
R. P. Baum ◽  
E. Rohrbach ◽  
G. Hör ◽  
B. Kornhuber ◽  
E. Busse

The effect of triiodothyronine (T3) on the differentiation of cultured neuroblastoma (NB) cells was studied after 9 days of treatment with a dose of 10-4 M/106 cells per day. Using phase contrast microscopy, 30-50% of NB cells showed formation of neurites as a morphological sign of cellular differentiation. The initial rise of the mitosis rate was followed by a plateau. Changes in cyclic nucleotide content, in the triphosphates and in the activity of the enzyme ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) were assessed in 2 human and 2 murine cell lines to serve as biochemical parameters of the cell differentiation induced by T3. Whereas the cAMP level increased significantly (3 to 7 fold compared with its initial value), the cGMP value dropped to 30 to 50% of that of the control group. ATP and GTP increased about 200%, the ODC showed a decrease of about 50%. The present studies show a biphasic effect of T3 on neuroblastoma cells: the initial rise of mitotic activity is followed by increased cell differentiation starting from day 4 of the treatment.


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