ABSTRACT
Network pharmacological approaches were used to predict the components, targets and pathways of Erhuang decoction (EhD) in the treatment of acute lung injury (ALI). The SwissTargetPrediction platform, DisGeNET, Therapeutic Target Database (TTD), GeneCards and Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM) databases were used to predict potential targets of EhD and were integrated with the predicted targets for the treatment of ALI. A protein-protein interaction network model was constructed by using String database and Cytoscape software; the DAVID platform was used for Gene Ontology (GO) analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis. A network of drug components-targets-pathways was constructed by Cytoscape software and the SwissDock platform was used to dock the molecules of EhD found in blood with the key disease targets. An ALI model was established in mice and inflammatory factor detection and Western blot protein expression experiments with lung tissue sections were carried out to verify the effect of EhD in the treatment of ALI. Animal experiment ethical requirements were approved by the Ethical Committee Experimental Animal Center of Shandong University (Grant Number: 2016020). We identified 148 potential targets including signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), vascular endothelial cell growth factor A (VEGFA), RAC-alpha serine/threonine-protein kinase (AKT1), and nuclear factor-kappa B/p65 (RELA). The potential targets are largely associated with the biological processes of inflammation, oxidative stress, and apoptosis. Additional pathways relate to cancer, VEGF signaling, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling, and Toll-like receptors (TLRs) signaling, along with other signaling pathways. Pharmacodynamic experiments showed that EhD could significantly reduce the content of inflammatory factors and the degree of lung injury of ALI mice. Western blot revealed that EhD could significantly decrease the expression of NF-κB/p65 and upregulate the expression of NF-kappa-B inhibitor alpha (IκBα). From the perspective of network pharmacology, the mechanisms of EhD in the treatment of ALI is consistent with the characteristics of multiple ingredients, multiple targets and multiple pathways. This research provides a reference for further study of the mechanism of this traditional Chinese medicine.
ABSTRACT
Objective: The solubilization of 4 compounds(Euphorbia factor L1,L2,L3 and L8),caused by mixed micelles self-assembled from fatty oil of Euphorbiae Semen and bile salt of intestinal juice,was researched in the simulated human intestinal environment. Method: The mixed micelles were prepared with different amounts of fatty oil of Euphorbiae Semen.The transmission electron microscope(TEM) was used to observe the morphology of the micelles.Particle size detector was used to determine the particle size and Zeta potential.HPLC was used to assay the solubility of these 4 compounds.The variation tendency of the total dissolution of these 4 compounds with the change of standing time was observed. Result: Particle size of the mixed micelles was uniform and its morphology was spherical.The absolute values of Zeta potential were less than 20 mV.When the amount of sodium deoxycholate was fixed 4.96 g·L-1,the solubility of these 4 compounds with the concentration of fatty oil at 0.1-4 g·L-1 were significantly greater than that at the dosage of 0 g·L-1.The solubility of these 4 compounds in the micelles formed by fatty oil was 1.3 to 4 times as much as the micelles without fatty oil.The micelles was stable for 36 h. Conclusion: The micelles self-assembled from fatty oil of Euphorbiae Semen and bile salt of intestinal juice,have significant solubilization effect on Euphorbia factor L1,L2,L3 and L8.This research can lay the foundation for clarifying the detoxification mechanism of removing fatty oil and making frostlike powder from the perspective of pharmaceutics.
ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>Optimize the technic condition of Duzhong Jiangya prescription with Semi-bionic Extraction.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Using homogeneous design, under the same materials granularity, decoction temperature, consumption of water, filtration, concentration, and taking aucubin, hydrochloric acid stachydrine, maloicacid, baicalin, ethanol extract, dry extract as the indexes, the results were comprehensive considered to optimize the semi-bionic extraction condtions.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The optimized SBE extraction conditions are the following: pH values of the water for the thrice extraction is 5.845 3, 7.496 1, 8.011 7, and the total extraction time is 3.418 0 h.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Considering the fact of manufacture, the SBE extraction conditions are the following: pH values of the water for the thrice extraction is 6.0, 7.5, 8.0, and the thrice extraction time is 1.5, 1.0, 1.0 h.</p>