ABSTRACT
Objective: To screen out active ingredients, and predict the anti-cancer targets of Ligustri Lucidi Fructus-Astragali Radix based on the "herbs-active ingredient-action targets" network. Method: The traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) system pharmacology platform (TCMSP) was employed to screen out the active ingredients and putative targets of anti-cancer of glossy privet fruit and astragalus. DisGeNET database and Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM database) were employed to predict the targets for treating cancer, and then "herbs-active ingredients-key targets" network was constructed by using Cytoscape software. The omicshare platform was employed to match the putative targets of ingredients and the targets for treating cancer. Finally, the protein interaction network of key targets was constructed by using String database, and the analysis of biological functions and pathways of them was carried out by using DAVID database. Result: Totally 33 drug active ingredients were screened out, involving a total of 203 targets, and 14 of them were related to cancer. These 14 key targets played an therapeutic role in treating cancer by regulating target proteins, such as ERBB2, AR, SRC, EGFR, ESR1, as well as proteoglycans in cancer, cancer pathways, microRNAs in cancer and other pathways. Conclusion: The therapeutic mechanism of Ligustri Lucidi Fructus-Astragali Radix reflects the multi-component, multi-target, and multi-pathway characteristics of TCMs, providing the scientific basis for further study and the material basis of Ligustri Lucidi Fructus-Astragali Radix against cancer.
ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the efficacy difference in treatment of depression in breast cancer between the combined therapy of acupuncture and auricular acupressure and western medication.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty patients were randomized into an observation group and a control group, 30 cases in each one. In the observation group, the combined therapy of acupuncture and auricular acupressure was adopted. The main acupoints of acupuncture were Hegu (LI 4), Tai-chong (LR 3), Baihui (GV 20), Zusanli (ST 36), Qihai (CV 6), etc. The supplementary acupoints were combined according to the syndrome differentiation. The treatment was given once every day, 5 treatments a week, at the interval of 2 days among weeks. The auricular acupressure was applied to gan (CO12, liver), pi (CO13, spleen), neifenmi (CO18, endocrine), etc., once every 4 days, on each side in one treatment. In the control group, fluoxetine hydrochloride capsules were prescribed for oral administration, 20 mg, once a day. The Hamilton depression rating scale (HAMD) was used to assess the disease severity and efficacy before treatment, in 4 and 8 weeks of treatment separately. HAMD factor changes were observed before treatment and at the end of the 8th week. The Asberg antidepressants scale (SERS) was applied to safety assessment.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The total effective rate was 86.7% (26/30) in the observation group, better than 63.3% (19/30) in the control group (P<0.05). At the end of the 4th and 8th weeks, HAMD scores were all reduced apparently in the two groups (all P<0.01). At the end of the 8th week, the scores of the HAMD factor 1 (anxiety/somatic system), factor 5 (retardation) and factor 6 (sleep disturbance) were all reduced as compared with those before treatment in the two groups (all P<0.01); the results in the observation group were better than those in the control group (P<0.05, P<0.01). SERS score in the observation group was lower obviously than that in the control group (P<0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The combined therapy of acupuncture and auricular acupressure achieves the antidepression effect in treatment of depression in breast cancer and has less side effects and high safety. The efficacy is superior to fluoxetine hydrochloride capsules.</p>