ABSTRACT
To investigate the therapeutic effect and molecular mechanism of the main flavonoid components of Silybum marianum (S. marianum) on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), we identified nine flavonoids in S. marianum through TCMSP, PubChem database and corresponding literatures. The potential therapeutic targets of NAFLD were predicted by SwissTargetPrediction, GeneCards and Venny 2.1.0 platform, while the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network of potential targets was analyzed using String platform and Cytoscape software. Then GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis were performed using David 6.8 database, followed by molecular docking verification using AutoDock software. In vitro, components with higher degree value in the "components-targets-pathway" network were chosen for further analysis. L02 cells were used to establish lipid accumulation model and treated with different components. Furthermore, the effects of four pure active compounds from S. marianum on lipid accumulation in hepatocytes were analyzed by oil red O staining. The results showed that the main nine flavonoids extracted from S. marianum contained 24 potential NAFLD targets. Several critical pathways closely related to NAFLD process were identified by GO and KEGG enrichment analysis, including phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-protein kinase B (PI3K-Akt) pathway, type 2 diabetes pathway, tumor necrosis factor (TNF) pathway and insulin resistance pathway. The results of molecular docking further indicated that the core components displayed strong binding abilities with key targets respectively, and silandrin showed better binding activity as compared to other components. The results obtained from L02 cells showed that the lipid accumulation was reduced by treatment with isosilybin A, isosilybin B, silydianin and silychristin, while the activity of isosilybin B was better than that of isosilybin A. Taken together, we concluded that the main flavone components of S. marianum could improve lipid accumulation through multiple signaling pathway in hepatocytes, and this could be a potential new strategy for the treatment of NAFLD.
ABSTRACT
Objective: To observe the clinical efficacy of tuina at head and abdomen for headache due to phlegm turbidity. Methods:A total of 56 patients with headache due to phlegm turbidity were randomized into a tuina group and a Chinese medicine group by the random number table, with 28 cases in each group. The tuina group was treated mainly with tuina at the head and abdomen, while the Chinese medicine group was treated with oral administration of Ban Xia Bai Zhu Tian Ma Tang(Pinellia, Atractylodes Macrocephala and GastrodiaDecoction). The course of treatment was 30 d. The scores of headache index, traditional Chinese medicine syndrome scale, and the therapeutic efficacy were observed. Results:There were 2 dropouts in each group during treatment. The total effective rate was 92.3％ in the tuina group, significantly higher than 76.9％ in the Chinese medicine group (P<0.05). The scores of headache index and traditional Chinese medicine syndrome scale in both groups decreased after treatment (bothP<0.05), and scores in the tuina group were lower than those in the Chinese medicine group (bothP<0.05). Conclusion:Tuina mainly at head and abdomen is effective in treating headache due to phlegm turbidity, and has a better effect than Ban Xia Bai Zhu Tian Ma Tang (Pinellia, Atractylodes Macrocephala and GastrodiaDecoction).