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Objective:To explore the potential synergistic protective mechanism of Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma-Granati Pericarpium formula compound by using the methods and tools of network pharmacology，and provide a basis for the modernization of traditional Chinese medicine（TCM） compounds and the discovery of new drugs. Method:Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform （TCMSP） was used to obtain the active components of Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma-Granati Pericarpium formula and their corresponding targets. The obtained targets were input to the UniProt database to inquire the gene names corresponding to the targets. By searching the CTD database，Genecards database and OMIM database of disease-related websites，the anti-sunburn targets were obtained. The interaction of the active targets was analyzed with online STRING database to screen the predicted core targets. The gene ontolog（GO） gene function enrichment analysis and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes（KEGG） pathway enrichment analysis of the predictive targets were performed by using DAVID database. Cytoscape 3.6.1 software was used to make "drug-component-target" network diagram，"protein-protein interaction" network diagram and "component-target-pathway" network diagram. Online website Draw Venn Diagram was used to show the relationship between disease targets and drug predicted targets. R Studio software was used to draw the functional enrichment analysis diagram of GO gene and KEGG pathway. Molecular docking between the active ingredients and the core targets was performed using GOLD software. Result:The 16 active compounds were collected，such as liquiritin，glycyrrhizin，kaempferol and quercetin. The active components mainly acted on 5 core targets：protein kinase B1（AKT1），interleukin（IL）-6，vascular endothelial growth factor（VEGFA），tumor necrosis factor（TNF） and tumor suppressor gene （TP53） and played a role in anti-sunburn effect primarily through these pathways such as hepatitis B，pathways in cancer，toxoplasmosis，chagas disease（American trypanosomiasis），and TNF signaling pathway. Conclusion:Based on the method of network pharmacology，the present study has preliminarily explored the anti-sunburn targets and pathways of Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma-Granati Pericarpium formula，and further verified the characteristics of multi-component and multi-target treatment of diseases in TCM，so as to provide certain scientific ideas for the modernization research of Chinese herbal compound prescriptions.
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Objective:To predict the anti-inflammatory targets and relevant signaling pathways of Epimedii Folium in the treatment of depression by network pharmacology，in order to explore the potential mechanism of its anti-depression effect. Method:The active constituents of Epimedii Folium were collected and screened out through the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform（TCMSP） database. PharmMapper server and TCMSP database were used to predict and screen out protein targets. OMIM database，CTD database and GeneCards database were used to screen out relevant targets and anti-inflammatory targets of depression. Enrichment analysis of the gene ontology （GO） function and Kyoto Encyclopedia of genes and genomes（KEGG） signaling pathway for the key anti-inflammatory targets of Epimedii Folium were carried out by DAVID database. Cytoscape 3.6.0 was used to construct the network diagram of "active component-action target-signal pathway" of Epimedii Folium and analyze the topological structure of the network. GOLD molecular docking software was used to verify the results of active components and key anti-inflammatory targets. Result:A total of 12 active components，30 targets and 5 key anti-inflammatory targets of Epimedii Folium were screened out， 65 biological processes，4 cell components and 1 molecular function were enriched with GO function， and 41 KEGG pathways were enriched and analyzed，including 9 inflammation-related signaling pathways. Molecular docking verified that icariin and key anti-inflammatory targets could form the optimal binding structure. Conclusion:The study preliminarily reveals the molecular mechanism of Epimedii Folium on depression through its anti-inflammatory target and its relevant signaling pathway network，so as to provide a basis for further study on the antidepressant effect of Epimedii Folium.
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Objective: To establish a better near infrared quantitative model for quality control of Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma of components (moisture,total ash,liquiritin and glycyrrhizic acid) in liquorice,in order to realize rapid detection.Method: The contents of moisture,total ash,liquiritin and glycyrrhizic acid were determined in 97 samples based on the methods set forth in Chinese Pharmacopoeia.Meanwhile,the near infrared spectrum was scanned using near infrared spectroscope.R software was used to screen out the spectral pretreatment and build the quantitative models.Result: The optimum spectral pretreatment method for establishing the near infrared quantitative model of moisture and liquiritin was the first order derivative.For moisture,the correlation coefficients of test and validation were 0.930 0 and 0.929 9,and the root mean square errors were 0.243 2 and 0.203 8,respectively.For liquiritin,the correlation coefficients of test and validation were 0.930 3 and 0.907 6,and the root mean square errors were 0.093 9 and 0.128 9,respectively.The optimum spectral pretreatment method for establishing the near infrared quantitative model of total ash was MSC.The correlation coefficients of test and validation were 0.926 5 and 0.917 7,and the root mean square errors were 0.109 6 and 0.103 7,respectively.The optimum spectral pretreatment method for establishing the near infrared quantitative model of glycyrrhizic acid was SNV.The correlation coefficients of test and validation were 0.918 1 and 0.915 7,and the root mean square errors were 0.274 8 and 0.236 0,respectively.Conclusion: In this study,a better near infrared quantitative models for quality control of components of Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma were established,with a high accuracy,which laid a foundation for rapid detection of the components in Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma.
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It was aimed at exploring the potential pharmacological effects of alkaloids in Sophora alopecuroides by means of network pharmacology in this study. The main alkaloids in S. alopecuroides were collected for analysis of drug properties, prediction of potential targets and screening of signaling pathways. DAVID analysis tool combined with KEGG database was used to annotate and analyze the signaling pathway. The alkaloids-targets-signaling pathways network was built through Cytoscape software. Results showed that 17 alkaloids in S. alopecuroides involved 49 targets (170 times in all) and 22 important signaling pathways. Three nodes in model of network pharmacology were cross-linked, and the metabolic pathways were coordinated and regulated by each other. It indicated that alkaloids in S. alopecuroides may have therapeutic effect on diseases of cancer, metabolic disorder, endocrine system, digestive system, nervous system and so on.
Subject(s)
Alkaloids , Pharmacology , Phytochemicals , Pharmacology , Signal Transduction , Sophora , ChemistryABSTRACT
The aim of this paper was to investigate the potential pharmacological effect of flavonoids in Sophora alopecuroides by network pharmacology. This study predicted the potential targets of 11 flavonoids of S. alopecuroides with help of reversed pharmacophore matching target recognition service platform (PharmMapper). The pathway information was acquired from DAVID and KEGG databases. Cytoscape software was used to construct the "ingredient-target-pathway" network of flavonoids active components of S. alopecuroides. The flavonoids active components of S. alopecuroides play anti-inflammatory, blood sugar regulating and other pharmacological effects by regulating 62 targets (such as INSR，KDR，MET) and intervening 44 pathways, such as B cell receptor signaling pathway, insulin signaling pathway, neurotrophin signaling pathway, and T cell receptor signaling pathway. In this study, the mechanism of "muti components-multitargets-multiple pathway" of flavonoids was studied. It reflects the multi-components, multi-targets and multiple pathway features of traditional Chinese medicine. Meanwhile, it provides a scientific basis for the elucidation the mechanism of S. alopecuroides as a medicine, and the development and utilization resources of S. alopecuroides.
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To compare the appearances, tastes, contents of bioactive components and antioxidant activity of Lyceum ruthenicum under different drying methods, so as to direct its production practice. The folin-phenol colorimetric method, UV, extinction coefficient method and DPPH, as well as fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) method to determine the contents of polyphenols, proanthocyanidins, total anthocyanin and antioxidant activity under different drying methods： vacuum freeze drying, low-temperature oven drying and air drying for L. ruthenicum. The results showed that the drying methods had certain effects on its appearances, tastes, contents of bioactive components and antioxidant activity. The appearances and tastes were best after the L. ruthenicum was dried by vacuum freeze drying, with significantly lower moisture than air drying method. The contents of total polyphenols, anthocyanin and proanthocyanidins were highest by air-drying but lowest by low temperature oven drying in L. ruthenicum. The scavenging ability to DPPH was strongest by freeze-drying and lowest by low temperature oven drying, while the antioxidant activity was strongest by air-drying in the FRAT method. In addition, the appearances and tastes were poor in air drying, with higher moisture but highest contents of the three bioactive components. Therefore, the drying methods for L. ruthenicum shall be comprehensively considered.
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This study is to construct a rapid and effective method for identification of wild and cultivated Glycyrrhiza uralensis (hereinafter referred to as Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma) from Ningxia by comparison of the difference in chromatography identification based on index components and near-infrared spectroscopy identification. HPLC and UV methods were used to determine the content of liquiritin, glycyrrhizate and total flavonoids for 9 wild Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma and 14 cultivated Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma samples,and the near-infrared spectroscopy was also,collected. The results illustrated that the chromatography identification based on index components could not identify wild and cultivated Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma from Ningxia, while near-infrared spectroscopy could quickly and effectively achieve it. It provides an effective method for the growth pattern identification and application of Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma.