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Objective: Network pharmacology combines drug and disease targets with biological information networks based on the integrity and systematicness of the interactions between drugs and disease targets. This study aims to explore the molecular basis of Hanshi Zufei formula for treatment of COVID-19 based on network pharmacology and molecular docking techniques. Methods: Using TCMSP, the chemical constituents and molecular targets of Atractylodis Rhizoma, Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium, Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex, Pogostemonis Herba, Tsaoko Fructus, Ephedrae Herba, Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix, Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens, and Arecae Semen were investigated. The predicted targets of novel coronavirus were screened using the NCBI and GeneCards databases. To further screen the drug-disease core targets network, the corresponding target proteins were queried using multiple databases (Biogrid, DIP, and HPRD), a protein interaction network graph was constructed, and the network topology was analyzed. The molecular docking studies were also performed between the network's top 15 compounds and the coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) 3CL hydrolytic enzyme and angiotensin conversion enzyme II (ACE2). Results: The herb-active ingredient-target network contained nine drugs, 86 compounds, and 49 drug-disease targets. Gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis resulted in 1566 GO items (P < 0.05), among which 1438 were biological process items, 35 were cell composition items, and 93 were molecular function items. Fourteen signal pathways were obtained by enrichment screening of the KEGG pathway database (P < 0.05). The molecular docking results showed that the affinity of the core active compounds with the SARS-CoV-2 3CL hydrolase was better than for the other compounds. Conclusion: Several core compounds can regulate multiple signaling pathways by binding with 3CL hydrolase and ACE2, which might contribute to the treatment of COVID-19.
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Objective To evaluate the performance of transfection with a complex plasmid encoding green fluorescent protein tagged CatD (GFP-CatD)in researches on chronic photodamaged fibroblasts. Methods Human dermal fibroblasts (HSFs)were irradiated with ultraviolet A (UVA)at 25 J/cm2 once a day for 21 consecutive days to establish a chronic photodamaged cell model. A plasmid encoding GFP-CatD was constructed and transfected into some chronic photodamaged fibroblasts (experimental group). The photodamaged HSFs receiving no treatment served as the blank control group, and those transfected with the negative plasmid encoding GFP only as the negative control group. After additional culture, fluorescence microscopy and Western-blot analysis were performed to observe and measure the expression of GFP-CatD in HSFs respectively, flow cytometry and methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT)assay to evaluate the apoptosis and proliferation of chronic photodamaged fibroblasts respectively. Results Fluorescence microscopy showed the expression of GFP-CatD in cytoplasm of chronic photodamaged fibroblasts at 96 hours after transfection with the GFP-CatD-encoding plasmid. Western-blot analysis revealed that the expression of CatD in the experimental group was 1.28 times that in the blank control group. There were no significant differences in the apoptosis rate(4.29% ± 1.30%vs. 3.03% ± 1.70% , P > 0.05)or proliferative rate (45.20% ± 4.70% vs. 43.60 ± 3.90% , P > 0.05)between the experimental group and blank control group. Conclusion CatD could be traced in chronic photodamaged fibroblasts with no changes in biological activity or cell cycle after transfection with the GFP-CatD-encoding complex plasmid.
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Objective To observe the suppressing effect of topical nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and corticosteroids on ultraviolet ray (UV)-induced erythema.Methods A solar simulator and an UV phototherapy device were used as light sources,respectively.Erythema reaction was induced on the back skin of 30 healthy volunteers by 1,2 and 3 minimal erythema doses (MED) of irradiation.Five preparations including butyl flufenamate 2.5％ ointment,butyl flufenamate 5％ ointment,the base of butyl flufenamate ointment,halometasone ointment,and diclofenac 1％ ointment,were applied to the irradiation sites respectively half an hour before or immediately after the irradiation.One irradiation site remained untreated and served as the control.The degree of erythema was evaluated by a chromameter at 4,24,and 48 hours after the irradiation.Intragroup and intergroup comparisons were done by t test and analysis of variance,respectively.Results When applied half an hour before solar-simulated irradiation,both 2.5％ and 5％ butyl flufenamate ointment totally suppressed the erythema reaction induced by 1-3 MED of UV irradiation,with no significant increase in erythema index at all the three time points after irradiation (all P ＞ 0.05); diclofenac 1％ only inhibited the erythema induced by 1 MED of UV irradiation at 4 and 48 hours,with no difference observed in erythema index between the baseline and these time points after irradiation; however,halometasone significantly aggravated the erythema reaction (P ＜ 0.05).Neither NSAIDs nor corticosteroids applied immediately after solar-simulated irradiation showed statistical effect on the degree of UV-induced erythema.When applied immediately after irradiation using the phototherapy device,butyl flufenamate 2.5％ ointment,butyl flufenamate 5％ ointment and halometasone ointment all induced a significant reduction in erythema reaction at 4 hours after 1 MED of irradiation (all P ＜ 0.05),and diclofenac caused a statistical decrease in erythema reaction at all the time points after 1-3 MED of irradiation (all P ＜0.05).Conclusions Topical use of butyl flufenamate before UV irradiation can effectively inhibit erythema reaction induced by 1-3 MED of irradiation.When applied immediately after irradiation,diclofenac shows the strongest erythema-suppressive effect,followed sequentially by butyl flufenamate and halometasone.