scholarly journals A Network Pharmacology-based Approach to Explore the Active Ingredients and Molecular Mechanism of Lei-gong-gen Formula Granule on a Spontaneously Hypertensive Rat Model

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qiaofeng Li ◽  
Taijin Lan ◽  
Songhua He ◽  
Weiwei Chen ◽  
Xiaolan Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Salicylic Acid ◽  
Signaling Pathway ◽  
Antihypertensive Effect ◽  
Shikimic Acid ◽  
Akt Signaling ◽  
Hydroxybenzoic Acid ◽  
Shr Rats ◽  
Akt Signaling Pathway ◽  
Active Compounds

Abstract Background Lei-gong-gen formula granule (LFG) is a folk prescription derived from Zhuang nationality, which is the largest ethnic minority among the 56 nationalities in China. It consists of three herbs, namely Eclipta prostrata (L.) L., Smilax glabra Roxb, and Centella asiatica (L.) Urb. It has been widely used as health protection tea for hundreds of years to prevent hypertension in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. The purpose of this study is to validate the antihypertensive effect of LFG on a SHR model and further to identify the active ingredients of LFG and its anti-hypertension molecular mechanism. Methods Firstly, a spontaneously hypertensive rat model was used to observe the effects of LFG on blood pressure, body weight, and heart rate. The serum levels of NO, ANG Ⅱ, and ET-1 were measured and H&E staining was applied to observe the pathology of the heart. Secondly, network pharmacology analysis was performed to collect the ingredients of LFG by using the database of traditional Chinese medicine (TCMSP, TCMID, BATMAN-TCM) and to predict the active compounds, their corresponding targets, and hypertension associated pathways. Then the predicted results were verified by molecular biology experiments such as RT-qPCR and western blot. Finally, the potential active compounds were predicted by molecular docking technology, and the LFG chemical constituents were analyzed and identified by UPLC-QTOF/MS technology. Results LFG significantly reduced blood pressure and increased serum NO content in SHR rats. LFG ameliorated the pathological changes such as cardiac hypertrophy and interstitial inflammation. Based on the results of public database searching, 53 candidate active compounds from LFG were collected, which link to 765 potential targets. 828 hypertension associated targets were retrieved. 12 overlapped targets both related to candidate active compounds from LFG and hypertension were screened and used as the potential targets of LFG on antihypertensive effect. And the 12 overlapped targets were validated using RT-qPCR, and the results showed that LFG could upregulate the mRNA expression of NOS3 and proto-oncogene tyrosine-protein kinase SRC (SRC) in the thoracic aorta. Pathway enrichment results showed that PI3K-AKT signaling pathway was closely related to the expression of NOS3 and SRC. To verify this result, western blot was used to detect the key proteins (PI3K, AKT, and p-AKT) of the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway. The results showed that LFG significantly increased the protein expression levels of PI3K and phosphorylated AKT in SHR rats, suggesting that LFG may active PI3K-AKT signaling pathway to decrease hypertension. Molecular docking study further supported that p-hydroxybenzoic acid, cedar acid, shikimic acid, salicylic acid, nicotinic acid, linalool, and histidine can be well binding with NOS3, SRC, PI3K, and AKT. UPLC-QTOF/MS analysis confirmed that p-hydroxybenzoic acid, shikimic acid, salicylic acid, and nicotinic acid existed in LFG. Conclusion LFG can reduce the blood pressure of SHR rats, which might be attributed to increasing the serum NO level for promoting vasodilation via upregulating SRC expression level and activating the PI3K-AKT-NOS3 signaling pathway. p-Hydroxybenzoic acid, shikimic acid, salicylic acid, and nicotinic acid might be the underlying compounds for LFG antihypertensive effect.

scholarly journals A network pharmacology-based approach to explore the active ingredients and molecular mechanism of Lei-gong-gen formula granule on a spontaneously hypertensive rat model

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Qiaofeng Li ◽  
Taijin Lan ◽  
Songhua He ◽  
Weiwei Chen ◽  
Xiaolan Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Chinese Medicine ◽  
Traditional Chinese Medicine ◽  
Nicotinic Acid ◽  
Signaling Pathway ◽  
Antihypertensive Effect ◽  
Spontaneously Hypertensive Rat ◽  
Shikimic Acid ◽  
Network Pharmacology ◽  
Active Compounds

Abstract Background Lei-gong-gen formula granule (LFG) is a folk prescription derived from Zhuang nationality, the largest ethnic minority among 56 nationalities in China. It consists of three herbs, namely Eclipta prostrata (L.) L., Smilax glabra Roxb, and Centella asiatica (L.) Urb. It has been widely used as health protection tea for hundreds of years to prevent hypertension in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. The purpose of this study is to validate the antihypertensive effect of LFG on the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) model, and to further identify the effective components and anti-hypertension mechanism of LFG. Methods The effects of LFG on blood pressure, body weight, and heart rate were investigated in vivo using the SHR model. The levels of NO, ANG II, and ET-1 in the serum were measured, and pathological changes in the heart were examined by H&E staining. The main active components of LFG, their corresponding targets, and hypertension associated pathways were discerned through network pharmacology analysis based on the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology (TCMSP), Traditional Chinese Medicine Integrated Database (TCMID), and the Bioinformatics Analysis Tool for Molecular Mechanism of Traditional Chinese Medicine (BATMAN-TCM). Then the predicted results were further verified by molecular biology experiments such as RT-qPCR and western blot. Additionally, the potential active compounds were predicted by molecular docking technology, and the chemical constituents of LFG were analyzed and identified by UPLC-QTOF/MS technology. Finally, an in vitro assay was performed to investigate the protective effects of potential active compounds against hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) induced oxidative damage in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). Results LFG could effectively reduce blood pressure and increase serum NO content in SHR model. Histological results showed that LFG could ameliorate pathological changes such as cardiac hypertrophy and interstitial inflammation. From network pharmacology analysis, 53 candidate active compounds of LFG were collected, which linked to 765 potential targets, and 828 hypertension associated targets were retrieved, from which 12 overlapped targets both related to candidate active compounds from LFG and hypertension were screened and used as the potential targets of LFG on antihypertensive effect. The molecular biology experiments of the 12 overlapped targets showed that LFG could upregulate the mRNA and protein expressions of NOS3 and proto-oncogene tyrosine-protein kinase SRC (SRC) in the thoracic aorta. Pathway enrichment analysis showed that the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway was closely related to the expression of NOS3 and SRC. Moreover, western blot results showed that LFG significantly increased the protein expression levels of PI3K and phosphorylated AKT in SHR model, suggesting that LFG may active the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway to decrease hypertension. Molecular docking study further supported that p-hydroxybenzoic acid, cedar acid, shikimic acid, salicylic acid, nicotinic acid, linalool, and histidine can be well binding with NOS3, SRC, PI3K, and AKT. UPLC-QTOF/MS analysis confirmed that p-hydroxybenzoic acid, shikimic acid, salicylic acid, and nicotinic acid existed in LFG. Pre-treatment of HUVEC with nicotinic acid could alleviate the effect on cell viability induced by H2O2 and increase the NO level in cell supernatants. Conclusions LFG can reduce the blood pressure in SHR model, which might be attributed to increasing the NO level in serum for promoting vasodilation via upregulating SRC expression level and activating the PI3K-AKT-NOS3 signaling pathway. Nicotinic acid might be the potential compound for LFG antihypertensive effect.

scholarly journals Exploration of the Danggui Buxue Decoction Mechanism Regulating the Balance of ESR and AR in the TP53-AKT Signaling Pathway in the Prevention and Treatment of POF

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-16
Author(s):  
Huaiquan Liu ◽  
Hong Yang ◽  
Zhong Qin ◽  
Yunzhi Chen ◽  
Haiyang Yu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Docking ◽  
Cytochrome C ◽  
Protein Expression ◽  
Signaling Pathway ◽  
Animal Experiments ◽  
Serum Levels ◽  
Akt Signaling ◽  
Akt Signaling Pathway ◽  
Active Compounds ◽  
Danggui Buxue Decoction

Objective. The purpose of this study was to explore the molecular mechanism of Danggui Buxue Decoction (DBD) intervening premature ovarian failure (POF). Methods. The active compounds-targets network, active compounds-POF-targets network, and protein-protein interaction (PPI) network were constructed by a network pharmacology approach: Gene Ontology (GO) function and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Gene and Genome (KEGG) pathway analysis by DAVID 6.8 database. The molecular docking method was used to verify the interaction between core components of DBD and targets. Then, High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) analysis was used to determine whether the DBD contained two key components including quercetin and kaempferol. Finally, the estrous cycle, organ index, ELISA, and western blot were used to verify that mechanism of DBD improved POF induced by cyclophosphamide (CTX) in rats. Results. Based on the network database including TCMSP, Swiss Target Prediction, DisGeNET, DrugBank, OMIM, and Malacard, we built the active compounds-targets network and active compounds-POF-targets network. We found that 2 core compounds (quercetin and kaempferol) and 5 critical targets (TP53, IL6, ESR1, AKT1, and AR) play an important role in the treatment of POF with DBD. The GO and KEGG enrichment analysis showed that the common targets involved a variety of signaling pathways, including the reactive oxygen species metabolic process, release of Cytochrome C from mitochondria and apoptotic signaling pathway, p53 signaling pathway, the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, and the estrogen signaling pathway. The molecular docking showed that quercetin, kaempferol, and 5 critical targets had good results regarding the binding energy. Chromatography showed that DBD contained quercetin and kaempferol compounds, which was consistent with the database prediction results. Based on the above results, we found that the process of DBD interfering POF is closely related to the balance of ESR and AR in TP53-AKT signaling pathway and verified animal experiments. In animal experiments, we have shown that DBD and its active compounds can effectively improve estrus cycle of POF rats, inhibit serum levels of FSH and LH, protein expression levels of Cytochrome C, BAX, p53, and IL6, and promote ovary index, uterine index, serum levels of E2 and AMH, and protein expression levels of AKT1, ESR1, AR, and BCL2. Conclusions. DBD and its active components could treat POF by regulating the balance of ESR and AR in TP53-AKT signaling pathway.

Biological role of AKT, and regulation of AKT signaling pathway by thymoquinone: perspectives in cancer therapeutics

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 ◽  
Author(s):  
Md. Junaid ◽  
Yeasmin Akter ◽  
Syeda Samira Afrose ◽  
Mousumi Tania ◽  
Md. Asaduzzaman Khan
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Signaling Pathways ◽  
Signaling Pathway ◽  
Inhibitory Effect ◽  
Akt Signaling ◽  
Review Article ◽  
Therapeutic Drug ◽  
Akt Signaling Pathway ◽  
Anti Cancer

Background: AKT/PKB is an important enzyme with numerous biological functions, and its overexpression is related to the carcinogenesis. AKT stimulates different signaling pathways that are downstream of activated tyrosine kinases and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, hence functions as an important target for anti-cancer drugs. Objective: In this review article, we have interpreted the role of AKT signaling pathways in cancer and natural inhibitory effect of Thymoquinone (TQ) in AKT and its possible mechanism. Method: We have collected the updated information and data on AKT, their role in cancer and inhibitory effect of TQ in AKT signaling pathway from google scholar, PubMed, Web of Science, Elsevier, Scopus and many more. Results: There are many drugs already developed, which can target AKT, but very few among them have passed clinical trials. TQ is a natural compound, mainly found in black cumin, which has been found to have potential anti-cancer activities. TQ targets numerous signaling pathways, including AKT, in different cancers. In fact, many studies revealed that AKT is one of the major targets of TQ. The preclinical success of TQ suggests its clinical studies on cancer. Conclusion: This review article summarizes the role of AKT in carcinogenesis, its potent inhibitors in clinical trials, and how TQ acts as an inhibitor of AKT and TQ’s future as a cancer therapeutic drug.

scholarly journals Retraction: Salvianolic acid B inhibits inflammatory response and cell apoptosis via the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in IL-1β-induced osteoarthritis chondrocytes

RSC Advances ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 4441-4441
Author(s):  
Laura Fisher
Keyword(s):  
Inflammatory Response ◽  
Signaling Pathway ◽  
Cell Apoptosis ◽  
Akt Signaling ◽  
Salvianolic Acid B ◽  
Signalling Pathway ◽  
Akt Signaling Pathway ◽  
Salvianolic Acid ◽  
Osteoarthritis Chondrocytes

Retraction of ‘Salvianolic acid B inhibits inflammatory response and cell apoptosis via the PI3K/Akt signalling pathway in IL-1β-induced osteoarthritis chondrocytes’ by Bin Zhu et al., RSC Adv., 2018, 8, 36422–36429, DOI: 10.1039/C8RA02418A.

CNOT7 modulates biological functions of ovarian cancer cells via AKT signaling pathway

Life Sciences ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 268 ◽  
pp. 118996
Author(s):  
Jiangtao Yu ◽  
Xiaoli Hu ◽  
Xiuxiu Chen ◽  
Qiangyong Zhou ◽  
Qi Jiang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ovarian Cancer ◽  
Cancer Cells ◽  
Signaling Pathway ◽  
Akt Signaling ◽  
Ovarian Cancer Cells ◽  
Biological Functions ◽  
Akt Signaling Pathway

scholarly journals Gambogic acid protects LPS-induced apoptosis and inflammation in a cell model of neonatal pneumonia through the regulation of TrkA/Akt signaling pathway

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xu Gao ◽  
Jingya Dai ◽  
Guifang Li ◽  
Xinya Dai
Keyword(s):  
Western Blot ◽  
Signaling Pathway ◽  
Cell Model ◽  
Akt Signaling ◽  
Gambogic Acid ◽  
Akt Signaling Pathway ◽  
Western Blot Assay ◽  
A Cell ◽  
Induced Apoptosis ◽  
Apoptosis And Inflammation

Abstract Objective In this work, we investigated the effects of gambogic acid (GA) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced apoptosis and inflammation in a cell model of neonatal pneumonia. Method Human WI-38 cells were maintained in vitro and incubated with various concentrations of GA to examine WI-38 survival. GA-preincubated WI-38 cells were then treated with LPS to investigate the protective effects of GA on LPS-induced death, apoptosis and inflammation. Western blot assay was utilized to analyze the effect of GA on tropomyosin receptor kinase A (TrkA) signaling pathway in LPS-treated WI-38 cells. In addition, human AKT serine/threonine kinase 1 (Akt) gene was knocked down in WI-38 cells to further investigate the associated genetic mechanisms of GA in protecting LPS-induced inflammation and apoptosis. Results Pre-incubating WI-38 cells with low and medium concentrations GA protected LPS-induced cell death, apoptosis and inflammatory protein productions of IL-6 and MCP-1. Using western blot assay, it was demonstrated that GA promoted TrkA phosphorylation and Akt activation in LPS-treated WI-38 cells. Knocking down Akt gene in WI-38 cells showed that GA-associated protections against LPS-induced apoptosis and inflammation were significantly reduced. Conclusions GA protected LPS-induced apoptosis and inflammation, possibly through the activations of TrkA and Akt signaling pathway. This work may broaden our understanding on the molecular mechanisms of human neonatal pneumonia.

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