ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the active ingredients of Jingfang Baidu San for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19 by using network pharmacology and molecular docking, and to provide references for clinical applications. Methods The chemical constituents and action targets of all medicinal materials in Jingfang Baidu San were retrieved from TCMSP. Uniprot database was used to search the corresponding genes of targets. Cytoscape software was used to construct the network of medicinal materials-compounds-targets for visualization. The target proteins of COVID-19 were searched by disease databases. The intersection of both was considered to be analyzed to establish the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network by STRING database. GO function enrichment analysis and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis were performed through Metascape database to predict its mechanism. The effective strength of core constituents on preventing COVID-19 was calculated by molecular docking method. Results A total of 159 effective ingredients and 277 potential targets were obtained in Jingfang Baidu San within the given screening conditions [oral bioavailability (OB) ≥30%; drug-like (DL) ≥ 0.18], including 55 core targets with the intersection of 273 targets of COVID-19. According to the results of GO and KEGG enrichment analysis performed on the core targets, 1376 GO items and 136 KEGG pathways were obtained, involving infectious diseases, cancer, cell progress, immune system, signaling pathways etc. The results of molecular docking indicated strong binding capacity between the core ingredients and SARS-CoV-2 3CL hydrolase or angiotensin-converting enzyme II (ACE2). The hydrogen binding and hydrophobic effect were the main forms of the interaction. Conclusion The active ingredients in Jingfang Baidu San can inhibit the binding between SARS-CoV-2 protein and ACE2, thus regulating multiple targets and signal pathways, which plays a role in the prevention and the treatment of COVID-19.
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Aim To observe the effect and primary mechanism of arctigenin ( ARG) in C6 rat glioma. At the same time, to investigate the effect of ARG com-bined with temozolomide. Methods C6 glioma rat model was established, and 90 rats were divided into six groups, which were subcutaneously administered with model, low and high ARG (0. 05 and 0. 1 mg· kg-1 , sc) , temozolomide (20 mg·kg-1 , p. o. ) , low ARG combined with temozolomide(TMZ / ARG 0. 05) and high ARG combined with temozolomide ( TMZ /ARG 0. 1 ) . The tumor specimens of brain were col-lected after tumor graft. Proliferating cell nuclear anti-gen ( PCNA ) , glial fibrillary acidic protein ( GFAP ) and CD40 in tumor specimens were determined by im-munohistochemistry. Results ① Compared with the model group, the tumor sizes of rats in the arctigenin treatment groups were decreased ( P significantly decreased PCNA and CD40 expression ( P<0. 05 ) and increased GFAP expression ( P<0. 05 ) .③ Compared with model group, arctigenin combined with temozolomide decreased the tumor sizes ( P <0. 01 ) , and the tumor inhibition rate was higher than that of the arctigenin and temozolomide. At the same time, arctigenin combined with temozolomide de-creased PCNA and CD40 expression ( P <0. 01 ) and increased GFAP expression ( P <0. 05 ) , which was better than arctigenin and temozolomide. Conclusion Arctigenin inhibits rat glioma growth, and synergizes with temozolomide, which may be associated with in-hibiting PCNA and CD40 expression and strengthening GFAP expression.
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This study investigated the effect of arctigenin (Arc) on the cell activation, cytokines expression, proliferation, and cell-cycle distribution of mouse T lymphocytes. Mouse lymphocytes were prepared from lymph node and treated with Phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA)/Ionimycin (Ion) and/or Arc. CD69, CD25, cytokines, proliferation and cell cycle were assayed by flow cytometry. The results showed that, at concentrations of less than 1.00 micromol x L(-1), Arc expressed non-obvious cell damage to cultured lymphocytes, however, it could significantly down-regulate the expression of CD69 and CD25, as well as TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6 and IL-10 on PMA/Ion stimulated lymphocytes. At the same time, Arc could also inhibit the proliferation of PMA/Ion-activated lymphocytes and exhibited lymphocyte G 0/G1 phase cycle arrest. These results suggest that Arc possesses significant anti-inflammatory effects that may be mediated through the regulation of cell activation, cytokines expression and cell proliferation.
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AIM To observe the effects of melatonin on acute and chronic injuries induced by oxygen and glucose deprivation (OGD) in co-cultured neuron and glia and to explore the probable mechanisms of melatonin in antagonizing the injuries. METHODS The injury model of cultured neuron and co-cultured neuron and glia was made by administration of sodium dithionite and glucose-deprived Earles solution. In neuron and glia co-culture, two different models, acute injury model at the phase of OGD and chronic injury model after 'reperfusion' were established. The levels of nitric oxide (NO) and the activity of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were measured by Griess reagent and LDH kits respectively. The content of malondialdehyde (MDA) was determined by TBA method. Cell viability was analyzed using colorimetric MTT assay. RESULTS Melatonin increased the level of NO at the concentration of 10 -6 , 10 -7 mol?L -1 and decreased the level of MDA content elevated by OGD at the concentration of 10 -6 , 10 -7 , 10 -8 mol?L -1 in vitro cultured cortical neurons. In the chronic injury model after 'reperfusion' melatonin (10 -6 , 10 -7 , 10 -8 mol?L -1 ) significantly decreased LDH activity and increased MTT value in neurons and glia co-cultured. But in the acute injury model, melatonin obviously increased LDH activity and decreased MTT value. CONCLUSION Melatonin protection for neuron from injuries induced by oxygen and glucose deprivation may be related to increase in the level of NO and decrease in the content of MDA. Melatonin can antagonize the injury in the chronic injury model after 'reperfusion', but exaggerate the injury in the acute injury model. These may be all related to its antioxidant action. Our results also suggest that melatonin may probably inhibit activation of microglia.