Pharmacological targets identification and efficacy analysis of phenylethanoid glycosides from Cistanches Herba based on “target fishing” strategy / 中草药

ABSTRACT

Objective Cistanches Herba is a kind of tonic traditional Chinese medicine with several therapy effects including tonifying kidney-yin, anti-dementia, anti-aging and relaxing bowel. Phenylethanoid glycosides (PhGs) are the major effective components in C. tubulosa. However, there were no further studies on molecular pharmacologic mechanisms due to its complex components and mechanism diversity of action in PhGs till to now. The aim of this study was to investigate the target protein groups and related mechanisms associated with PhGs in anticerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury. Methods The middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model was established in rats, and the protective effects of PhGs on cerebral ischemia-induced injuries were determined. A kind of solid bead whose surface was cross-linked with PhGs was prepared to capture the target proteins from brain tissue lysates. The target proteins were further identified with LC-MS/MS. Results PhGs significantly inhibited cerebral ischemia-induced injuries by reducing ischemia size and rat behavioral scores and elevated the SOD levels in rat brain tissues. Eighteen target proteins were identified based on “target fishing” strategy and divided into 9 kinds according to their biological functions, including anti-oxidation, ion channel, immunoregulation, cell survival and cytoskeleton, etc. Conclusion These findings reveal the potential pharmacological mechanisms of PhGs in anti-dementia, fatigability alleviating, anti-tumor, immunoloregulation, etc, and also present a promising technology for investigating the complicated pharmacological mechanisms of traditional Chinese medicine.