Anti-depression targets and mechanism study of Kaixin San / 中国中药杂志

This study identified the anti-depression targets of Kaixin San(KXS) in the brain tissue with "target fishing" strategy, and explored the target-associated pharmacological signaling pathways to reveal the anti-depression molecular mechanism of KXS. The Balb/c mouse model of depression was established by chronic unpredictable mild stress(CUMS) and the anti-depression effect of KXS was evaluated by forced swimming test and sucrose preference test. KXS active components were bonded to the benzophenone-modified magnetic nanoparticles by photocrosslinking reaction for capturing target proteins from cortex, thalamus and hippocampus of depressive mice. The target proteins were identified by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry(LC-MS/MS). The enrichment analysis on signaling pathways was performed by Cytoscape. The potential biological functions of targets were verified by immunohistochemistry and Western blot assay. The results showed that KXS significantly improved the behavioral indexes. There were 64, 91, and 44 potential targets of KXS identified in cortex, thalamus, and hippocampus, respectively, according to the target identification experiment. The functions of these targets were mainly associated with vasopressin-regulated water reabsorption, salmonella infection, thyroid hormone synthesis, and other signaling pathways. Besides, the results of immunohistochemistry and Western blot showed that KXS up-regulated the expressions of argipressine(AVP) in the cortex, heat shock protein 60(HSP60), cytochrome C oxidase 4(COX4), and thyrotropin-releasing hormone(TRH) in the thalamus, and down-regulated the expressions of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) and nuclear factor kappa B(NF-κB) p65 in the thalamus. Therefore, KXS may exert anti-depression effect through regulating vasopressin signaling pathway in the cortex and inflammation, energy metabolism, and thyroid hormone signaling pathways in the thalamus, and the effect of KXS on hippocampus is not significant.

Analysis on mechanism of Kaixin San in the treatment of Alzheimer disease based on integrated pharmacology and GEO chip technology / 国际中医中药杂志

Objective:To analyze the mechanism of Kaixin San in treating Alzheimer disease (AD) based on the TCM integrated pharmacology platform combined with GEO chip differential gene analysis method.Methods:By searching TCMIP and Drugbank database, the active components and related molecular targets of Kaixin San were obtained. GSE4757 chip data was obtained through GEO database, and its differential genes were obtained using R language to draw heat map and volcano map. Molecular target map of differentially expressed genes between Kaixin San and AD was constructed through Cytoscape 3.7.2. Bisogenet and CytoNCA were used to draw the target topological network, and GO enrichment analysis and KEGG enrichment analysis of Kaixin San and AD gene were carried out.Results:86 active components of Kaixin San were obtained to treat AD, and 29 differential genes shared with GEO were obtained. PPI topological network was constructed. 6 core candidate genes were screened, and were merged with KEGG pathway enriched genes to obtain important genes for disease treatment, such as CHRM1, CHRM2, ACHE, CHRM3, CASP8, PTGS2, DRD1, CACN1S, ADRB1. 375 GO entries were obtained, mainly involving biological processes such as vasoconstriction, postsynaptic membrane plasticity, neurotransmitter transmission, etc. KEGG enrichment analysis mainly involved cholinergic synaptic signal pathway, cAMP signal pathway, calcium signal pathway, nerve ligand receptor interaction signal pathway, etc.Conclusions:Kaixin San shows the features of multi-component, multi-target and multi-channel in treating AD. It can play a role in the treatment of AD by inhibiting inflammatory reaction, reducing the activity of acetylcholinesterase and regulating the concentration of calciumion.

UHPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap MS/MS-based rapid identification of chemical components in substance benchmark of Kaixin San / 中国中药杂志

Ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-electrostatic field Orbitrap mass spectrometry(UHPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap MS/MS) was used for rapid identification of the chemical components in Kaixin San substance benchmark. The gradient elution was performed through a Waters ACQUITY~(TM) BEH C_(18) column(2.1 mm×150 mm, 1.7 μm) with water-acetonitrile as mobile phase, a column temperature of 30 ℃, a flow rate of 0.3 mL·min~(-1), and a sample size of 1 μL. The scanning was performed in the negative ion mode. The complex component groups in Kaixin San substance benchmark were quickly and accurately identified and clearly assigned based on the comparison of the retention time and MS data with those of the reference substance as well as the relative molecular weight of the same or similar components in the mass spectrum database and literature. A total of 77 compounds were identified, including 26 saponins, 13 triterpenoid acids, 20 oligosaccharide esters, 5 xanthones, and 13 other compounds. The qualitative method established in this study can systematically, accurately, and quickly identify the chemical components in Kaixin San substance benchmark, which can provide a basis for the further analysis of its active components in vivo and the establishment of its quality control system.

Effect of six class of Kaixin San formulas on pharmacological and preliminary mechanism of Alzheimer's disease mice / 中国中药杂志

The efficacy of Chinese herbal formulas in treating Alzheimer has been proved in many studies. In this study, six different Kaixin San formulas were compared to investigate their effects on learning and memory decline, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the hippocampus, tau protein, acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP). Kunming mice were selected and established a mouse model of Alzheimer's by intraperitoneal injection of D-galactose and sodium nitrite, continued intragastric 4 weeks, using the ability of learning and memory in Morris water maze test to evaluate the animals in each group; the content of BDNF in the hippocampus of mice with Western blotting detected; ELISA method for the detection of each group of mice hippocampal tau protein,p-Tau protein, Aβ,Ach,AchE and serum NT-proBNP levels. The results showed that, Kaixin San of Qianjin Yaofang three dose recorded significantly improved learning and memory ability of mice; increased the content of BDNF and Ach in the hippocampus; decreased the content of Aβ, Tau protein, p-Tau protein in the hippocampus; high, middle dose significantly decreased the serum NT-proBNP and AchE in hippocampus, the effect is most significant. Part dose of Kaixin San of Yixin Fang, Kaixin Wan of Yimen Fang, Dingzhi Xiaowan of Beji Qianjin Yaofang and Dingzhi Wan of Guji Luyan could improve the learning and memory ability evaluation indicators, significantly increased BDNF and Ach in the hippocampus of AD model mice, reduced the Aβ, Tau protein, p-Tau protein in hippocampus of AD model mice, decreased the NT-proBNP and AchE in serum of AD mice, the effect is more significant. Three does of Buxin Tang of Qianjin Yi had no effects of treatment in Alzheimer's disease. The results showed the treatment in AD of Kaixin San of Qianjin Yaofang is the most significant.

Effect of Kaixin-San on depression behavior and hippocampal brain-derived neurotrophic factor in mice / 第二军医大学学报

Objective To investigate the effect of Kaixin-San (KXS) on behavior, brain monoamine transmitters, and hippocampal brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in mice receiving tail suspension test (TST), so as to explore the correlation of the antidepressant effect of KXS and hippocampal BDNF level. Methods The effect of KXS on the immobility time of mice in the TST was observed. The levels of norepinephrine (NE), dopamine (DA) and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) in the brain were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Western blotting analysis was used to examine the expressions of cAMP-response element-binding protein (CREB), p-CREB, and BDNF in the hippocampus. BDNF mRNA expression was also examined by RT-PCR. Pearson's correlation analysis was used to evaluate relationship between anti-depression effect of Kaixin-San and hippocampal BDNF level. Results KXS reduced the immobility time of mice in the TST (P<0.05); it also increased the brain levels of monoamine transmitters (DA and 5-HT) and hippocampal levels of CREB, p-CREB and BDNF compared with the control mice(P<0.05). Moreover, the anti-depression effect of KXS was correlated with BDNF level (protein:r=-0.694, P<0.01; mRNA:r=-0.547, P<0.01) in the hippocampus. Conclusion The anti-depression effect of KXS is positively correlated with the hippocampal BDNF level, indicating KXS may exert anti-depression effect via increasing hippocampal BDNF.