ABSTRACT
Objective:This study by using the method of network pharmacology to screen the active constituent and related targets of Epimedii Folium aims to explore the mechanisms of the reinforcing effect of Epimedii Folium on kidney in the treatment of PCOS. Methods:By retrieving data from TCMSP datebase, screened out the active constituent of Epimedii Folium and the information of the targets corresponding to each active constituent; by using the gene database of NCBI, translated the information of the targets into gene names; by retrieving data from GeneCards datebase, extracted the genes related to PCOS; related targets of Epimedii Folium in the treatment of PCOS were obtained by Venn tool; by using Cytoscape 3.7.2 software, constructed a network diagram of Epimedii Folium-active constituents-targets-PCOS; by using STRING database, constructed the protein interaction network; then carried out GO enrichment analysis of related targets by Geneontology database and carried out pathway enrichment analysis of related targets by KEGG database. Results:There were 23 active constituents of Epimedii Folium and 132 related targets treating PCOS. The Epimedii Folium could play the reinforcing effect on kidney mainly by regulating the biological processes like steroid hormone receptor activity, as well as KEGG pathways such as Estrogen signaling pathway, GnRH signaling pathway, GnRH secretion, HIF-1 signaling pathway and VEGF signaling pathway in treating PCOS. Conclusion:From the perspective of network pharmacology, this study preliminarily analyzed the related targets and pathways of reinforcing effect on kidney of Epimedii folium in the treatment of PCOS, providing reference for further experiments and application inclinics.
ABSTRACT
Objective To explore the possible mechanism of activating blood circulation and removing blood stasis herbs in the treatment of endometriosis (EM) with network pharmacology approach. Methods Seven kinds of commonly used activating blood circulation and removing blood stasis herbs, such as: peach kernel, safflower, zeilan, salvia miltiorrhiza, leonuri, radix cyathulae, and wang buliuxing were selected as the research subjects. TCMSP platform, a database of traditional Chinese medicine chemical ingredients, was used to retrieve the effective ingredients of 7 herbs. The targets of the effective ingredients were obtained through the Targets information software. GeneCards database was used to collect EM related target genes. Venn diagram tool was used to obtain the target genes of active ingredients of activating blood circulation and removing blood stasis herbs. Cytoscape 3.6.0 software was used to construct the active ingredient-target-disease network. KEGG database was used to analyze the signal pathways of target gene enrichment. Results A total of 94 active ingredients and 119 targets of 7 herbs were screened. Quercetin, luteolin and kaempferol were the key active components. PTGS2, PTGS1, NCOA2 and NCOA1 were the key targets. The 7 herbs have 20 related KGEE pathways, involving sex hormones, inflammation, apoptosis and angiogenesis. PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, IL-17 signaling pathway, TNF signaling pathway were the main pathways. Conclusion The treatment of EM with activating blood circulation and removing blood stasis herbs has the characteristics of multiple components, multiple targets and multiple pathways, which can relieve the pain, inflammation and menstrual disorders symptoms of EM.