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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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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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<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the brain-protective and anti-aging effects and the mechanism of action of Tiangui Gengnian Soft Capsule (TGSC), a Chinese herbal preparation composed of sea buckthorn fatty acids.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixteen-month-old female rats were administered via gastric perfusion with low, medium and high doses (0.72 g/kg, 1.80 g/kg and 4.5 g/kg) of TGSC for 180 days. The 3-month and 22-month old rats were taken as controls. Expression of estrogen receptor beta(ERbeta), tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the brain of rats were observed and analyzed using immunohistochemical technique, and changes in the number of neurons and glial cells were counted with Nissl's staining.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Immunohistochemistry showed the number of ERbeta- and TH-positive neurons in the hypothalamus was significantly higher (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05), G-CSF-positive astrocyte stain was much weaker (P < 0.01) and the expression of VEGF-positive cerebral vessel was stronger (P < 0.05) in the TGSC treated groups than those in the control. Nissl's staining showed no significant difference in the number of neurons and glial cells among groups.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>TGSC could up-regulate the expressions of ERbeta, TH and VEGF in the brain of aged female rats, modulate the responsibility of astrocyte and its G-CSF expression, suggesting that TGSC may have certain neuro-protective and anti-aging effects.</p>