ABSTRACT
<b>Objective::To study the mechanism of modified Taohe Chengqitang in preventing and treating diabetic gastroparesis by regulating relative genes and signaling pathways based on network pharmacology. <b>Method::Target genes of modified Taohe Chengqitang were obtained from Bioinformatics Analysis Tool for Molecular Mechanism of TCM (BATMAN-TCM) database, and target genes of diabetic gastroparesis were obtained from Comparative Toxicogenomics Database (CTD) database. The target genes of modified Taohe Chengqitang-diabetic gastroparesis intersection protein were obtained through the integration of two groups of genes. STRING was used to build the protein-protein interaction network and visualize the results. Cytospace software ClueGO, CluePedia plug-in were used for gene ontology (GO) analysis and enrichment analysis of KEGG pathway of modified Taohe Chengqitang-diabetic gastroparesis target genes intersection, and results were visualized. Finally, CTD database and literatures were used to obtain intersection genes in the treatment of diabetic gastroparesis. <b>Result::Among 621 target genes in modified Taohe Chengqitang, 25 were related to diabetic gastroparesis. By regulating expressions of MLNR, SST, PTGS1, HRH2, HTR3A, HTR4, HTR7, NOS3 and other intersection genes, Taohe Chengqitang could improve the gastrointestinal hormone levels, affected the combination of serotonin and its receptors, activated adenylate cyclase (AC), and induced cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and protein kinase A (PKA), so as to activiate AC/cAMP/PKA signaling pathway, regulate Ca<sup>2+</sup> /K<sup>+</sup> channel, control ion balance, promote the adaptability of gastric smooth muscle, and contract gastric smooth muscle to regulate gastric volume. At the same time, gastric acid secretion was improved to protect gastric mucosa, which may help improve vasoconstriction and hemodynamics. <b>Conclusion::Based on the network pharmacology, modified Taohe Chengqitang has multiple mechanisms in the prevention and treatment of diabetic gastroparesis. This study explored relevant signaling pathways, advantages and research directions of modified Taohe Chengqitang in treatment of diabetic gastroparesis.
ABSTRACT
Various academic discussions have been officially proposed in the " theory of circular motion" in Circular Motion of Ancient Chinese Medicine. The theory of circular motion reflects the inheritance and development of the theory of Yin-Yang and five elements in ancient Chinese medicine, which has a great significance in the modern basic theory research and clinical practice of traditional Chinese medicine. On the basis of ancient literatures, this article aims to discuss the natural law of circular motion from the perspectives of the path of sun and 24-solar-terms of seasons via five-elements and Wufang circular motion theory according to circular motion. The circular motion has an effect on human body and natural environment. The invasion of pathogen is caused by deficiency of essential Qi. The combination of the healthy-Qi deficiency with the deficiency-type pathogen leads to the occurrence of external contraction. Therefore, the abnormality of Yang-Qi including nature and human is the main cause of the disease's development. Because the circular motion can expound the change rule and mutual relations of nature and human, we can predict the development of disease by it. When the circulation motion is disordered, clinical symptoms appear with inner pathogenesis. The understanding of the change of the circulation motion is helpful for us to have a deeper realization of the disease, grasp the pathogenesis and provide treatment based on syndrome differentiation. The authors explain nature environment and human physiology, and elaborate the relations between natural rule and Wufang's effect on circulation motion, in order to provide certain suggestions to guide clinical treatment based on pathogenesis.
ABSTRACT
Objective: To study the mechanism of modified Taohe Chengqitang in preventing and treating diabetic nephropathy by means of network pharmacology. Method: Target genes of modified Taohe Chengqitang were obtained from BAT-MAN database, while target genes of diabetic nephropathy were obtained from CTD database. The target genes of disease-drug protein were obtained by crossing two groups of genes. STRING was used to build the protein-protein interaction network and visualize the results. The key genes were screened out through the computational analysis algorithm of network structure and weighted relatedness between nodes. With DAVID online tools, gene ontology (GO) analysis of Disease-Drug Intersection Target Genes and enrichment analysis of kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes(KEGG) pathway were conducted. Finally, CTD database and literature study were used to obtain the key genes in the treatment of diabetic nephropathy. Result: Among 621 compounds in modified Taohe Chengqitang, 581 of them were related to diabetic nephropathy. NOS3, OAT, NT5C2, ACACB, AGXT, PDE3B and other key genes mainly regulated nerve tissue transmission, cholinergic synaptic pathway, calcium channel, metabolic pathway, purine metabolic pathway, angiotensin-neurosynaptic pathway, cyclic guanosine monophosphate/cGMP-dependent protein kinase G (cGMP/PKG) signaling pathway and cyclic adenosine phosphate signaling pathway, with effect in molecular reactions, such as plasma membrane, postsynaptic membrane and mitochondria. Conclusion: The network pharmacology predicts the key targets of modified Taohe Chengqitang in the prevention and treatment of diabetic nephropathy and the related pathways involved, suggesting a multi-target, multi-channel and multi-choice complex mechanism, and which is mostly related to anti-inflammation, oxidative phosphorylation and purine metabolism.