Search

Background: Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has a long history of treating glaucoma with remarkable effects, but there is no clear conclusion on its mechanism. Methods: Network pharmacology and molecular docking were used to analyze the mechanism and targets of TCM in the treatment of glaucoma, and baicalein was used to treat chronic ocular hypertension animal models rats for observation. Results: The results of animal experiments showed that baicalein could significantly reduce intraocular pressure (IOP) in a rat model of chronic ocular hypertension and protect the structure of the retina and optic nerve, as shown by hematoxylin–eosin (H&E) staining and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Reducing the apoptosis of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) by upregulating the expression of the antiapoptotic protein BCL-2 is basically consistent with the results of molecular docking. In the network pharmacology analysis, many key proteins of biological pathways involved in the herbal therapeutic processes in glaucoma, such as threonine kinase 1 (AKT1, core protein of PI3K/AKT signaling), tumor protein p53 (TP53, a tumor suppressor gene coding tumor protein P53), signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3, core protein of JAK/STAT signaling), interleukin 6 (IL-6) and interleukin 17 (IL-17, proinflammatory factors), were identified. Their interactions built complicated chain reactions in the process of glaucoma. Conclusion: By combining the analysis of network pharmacology and animal experimental results, baicalein could effectively improve the symptoms of glaucoma and reduce RGC apoptosis, suggesting that the potential mechanism of TCM in treating glaucoma is related to regulating inflammation and cellular immunity and reducing apoptosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A traditional Chinese medicine formula, Youdujing (YDJ) ointment, is widely used for treatment of human papilloma virus-related diseases, such as cervical cancer. However, the underlying mechanisms by which active compounds of YDJ alleviates cervical cancer are still unclear. Methods: We applied a comprehensive network pharmacology approach to explore the key mechanisms of YDJ by integrating potential target identification, network analysis, and enrichment analysis into classical molecular docking procedures. First, we used network and enrichment analyses to identify potential therapeutic targets. Second, we performed molecular docking to investigate the potential active compounds of YDJ. Finally, we carried out a network-based analysis to unravel potentially effective drug combinations. Results: Network analysis yielded four potential therapeutic targets: ESR1, NFKB1, TNF, and AKT1. Molecular docking highlighted that these proteins may interact with four potential active compounds of YDJ: E4, Y2, Y20, and Y21. Finally, we found that Y2 or Y21 can act alone or together with E4 to trigger apoptotic cascades via the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway and estrogen receptors. Conclusion: Our study not only explained why YDJ is effective for cervical cancer treatment, but also lays a strong foundation for future clinical studies based on this traditional medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dalbergia benthamii is a traditional Chinese medicine commonly used by Zhuang People in Guangxi, which was reported to possess a variety of biological activities. But their chemical constituents, anti-inflammatory activities and their possible pharmacological mechanism of D. benthamii were unclear yet. The acute inflammation of different doses of dhanol P.xlracls of D. benthamii was obsP.rvP.d by Llw mousP. xylP.nP. inducP.d P.ar P.dP.ma and carragP.P.nan inducP.d paw P.dP.ma modds. Tlwn, Llw dwmical consliluP.nls analysis of LhP. P.xlracls WP.ff'. ddP.rniirwd by liquid chromatography-mass spP.clromdry (LC-MS) and pyrolysis gas chmmalography-mass spP.clromdry (PY-CC/MS). ThP.ir mP.chanism of anliinflammalory aclivily was analyzP.d by ndwork pharmacology al LhP. samP. Linw. Tlw results Wf'.l'f'. as follows: ( 1) Compared wilh LhP. modd gmup, high dosP. gmup ( 8 g · kg·' ) of dhanol P.xlracls of D. benthamii could significantly inhibit LhP. xylP.nf'. inducP.d mousP. P.ar P.dP.ma, ca rragP.P.nan irnlucP.d hind paw P.dP.ma, with inhibition raLP. ovP.r 50%. ( 2) TlwrP. WP.ff'. sixly com1M1umls idP.nLifiP.d from Llw P.xlracls, including somP. repnrfrd a nli-inflammalory aclivP. consliluP.nls, such as isofla vonP. mullP.in, formonondin, s anguinP., pi(lf'.rinP., bda-silosLP.ml, de. ( 3) ThP. ndwork pharmacological analysis wP.re shown Lhat thP. a nti-inflammatory P.ffocLs of D. benthamii mighL bP. rdatP.d Lo poLP.nlial Largds of P 1K3CA, EC.fl{, MAPK, SHC, STAT3, CYP19Al, 1L2 and MAOA, de., which wP.re mainly involving signaling pathways of cC.MP-l'KC., cAMl', Focal adhP.sion and Hapl. ThP. rP.sulLs will provi(fo an impor'lanl rP.forencP. for LhP. furthP.r dP.vdopmP.nl and uLilizalion of LhP. planls of D. benthamii. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]