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Objective. To explore the mechanism of Shaoyao Gancao decoction (SGD) in treatment of alopecia areata (AA) by network pharmacology and animal experiments. Methods Based on the traditional Chinese medicine systems pharmacology database and analysis platform (TCMSP), the components and targets of SGD were determined. Then, the related targets of AA were retrieved from DrugBank, GeneCards, OMIM, and DisGeNET databases. The intersection of drug targets and disease targets was determined, and the key targets of the protein-protein interaction network were obtained with the String database. Gene Ontology (GO) biological process enrichment analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis of potential key targets were carried out using the DAVID database using AutoDock for molecular docking verification. Finally, the key pathway was validated by animal experiments. Results. A total of 102 active components, 212 predicted targets, and 812 AA disease-related targets were obtained. Topological analysis yielded 45 key targets of SGD in the treatment of AA, including IL-6, PTGS2, TNF, VEGFA, CCL2, IL-1B, CXCL8, CASP3, MPO, and IL-10. There were 324 GO entries obtained through GO biological process enrichment analysis, and 20 pathways were obtained through KEGG pathway enrichment analysis, involving the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, osteoclast differentiation, and Jak-STAT signaling pathway. The molecular docking results showed effective ingredients (quercetin, kaempferol, and 7-methoxy-2-methyl isoflavone) have good docking results with targets (IL-6, PTGS2, and TNF). The results of animal experiments showed that SGD can effectively upregulate the expression of PI3K and AKT proteins. Conclusion. This is the first in-depth study on the mechanism of SGD’s treatment effect in AA using network pharmacology, and preliminary animal experiments verified that it is closely related to the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. This finding may provide a new basis for SGD’s clinical application in AA.

Zihan Wang,1 Ying Chen,1 Shuying Lv,1 Ziyi Sun,1 Xiaoyan Lu,2 Li Huang,2 Lin Li2 1Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Integrative Cardiology, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Lin LiDepartment of Integrative Cardiology, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, People’s Republic of ChinaTel +86-18600285198Email lilinxcy@126.comObjective: To investigate the correlation between limb artery indices (brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity and ankle-brachial index), endothelial function index (FMD value), and the degree of coronary artery stenosis in diabetic patients and analyze their values in predicting the degree of coronary artery stenosis.Methods: The study included 151 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and suspected coronary atherosclerotic heart disease. The patients were divided into “coronary atherosclerotic heart disease” (N=94) and “non-coronary atherosclerotic heart disease” (N=57) groups based on the coronary angiographic findings. Within the coronary atherosclerotic heart disease group, the patients were further divided into “low stenosis” (N=47) and “high stenosis” (N=47) subgroups according to their Gensini score. Indicators such as brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity, ankle-brachial index, and FMD value were measured and correlated with the degree of coronary artery stenosis. Logistic regression models were constructed and receiver operating characteristic curves plotted to assess the predictive ability of limb artery and endothelial functional indices for the degree of coronary artery stenosis.Results: In a diabetic population, FMD value (P=0.003), ankle-brachial index (P=0.004), and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (P=0.003) were different in patients with and without coronary atherosclerotic heart disease. In the population with both diabetes mellitus and coronary atherosclerotic heart disease, the ankle-brachial index and FMD value were both independently associated with the degree of coronary artery stenosis (P=0.003). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve plotted from the combined coefficients of ankle-brachial index and FMD value was 0.773, which is predictive of coronary artery stenosis in diabetic patients.Conclusion: Ankle-brachial index and FMD value are indicative of the degree of coronary artery stenosis in diabetic patients, and predictive efficacy can be improved by combining the two tests.Keywords: type 2 diabetes mellitus, coronary artery stenosis, limb artery testing, vascular endothelial function, clinical predictive model