ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Malancao (MLC) is a traditional Chinese medicine with a long history of utilization in treating ulcerative colitis (UC). Nevertheless, the precise molecular mechanisms underlying its efficacy remain elusive. This study leveraged ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with exactive mass spectrometry (UHPLC-QE-MS), network pharmacology, molecular docking (MD), and gene microarray analysis to discern the bioactive constituents and the potential mechanism of action of MLC in UC management. AIM: To determine the ingredients related to MLC for treatment of UC using multiple databases to obtain potential targets for fishing. METHODS: This research employs UHPLC-QE-MS for the identification of bioactive compounds present in MLC plant samples. Furthermore, the study integrates the identified MLC compound-related targets with publicly available databases to elucidate common drug disease targets. Additionally, the R programming language is utilized to predict the central targets and molecular pathways that MLC may impact in the treatment of UC. Finally, MD are conducted using AutoDock Vina software to assess the affinity of bioactive components to the main targets and confirm their therapeutic potential. RESULTS: Firstly, through a comprehensive analysis of UHPLC-QE-MS data and public database resources, we identified 146 drug-disease cross targets related to 11 bioactive components. The Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analysis highlighted that common disease drug targets are primarily involved in oxidative stress management, lipid metabolism, atherosclerosis, and other processes. They also affect AGE-RAGE and apoptosis signaling pathways. Secondly, by analyzing the differences in diseases, we identified key research targets. These core targets are related to 11 active substances, including active ingredients such as quercetin and luteolin. Finally, MD analysis revealed the stability of compound-protein binding, particularly between JUN-Luteolin, JUN-Quercetin, HSP90AA1-Wogonin, and HSP90AA1-Rhein. Therefore, this suggests that MLC may help alleviate intestinal inflammation in UC, restore abnormal lipid accumulation, and regulate the expression levels of core proteins in the intestine. CONCLUSION: The utilization of MLC has demonstrated notable therapeutic efficacy in the management of UC by means of the compound target interaction pathway. The amalgamation of botanical resources, metabolomics, natural products, MD, and gene chip technology presents a propitious methodology for investigating therapeutic targets of herbal medicines and discerning novel bioactive constituents.
ABSTRACT
AIMS: Chronic exposure to d-galactose (D-Gal), which causes acceleration in aging and simulated symptoms of natural senescence, has been used as a reliable animal model of aging. However, the different influences of D-Gal on spatial and nonspatial cognition are as yet unclear. MAIN METHODS: In the present study, the object recognition test (ORT), object location test (OLT) and Y-maze test were carried out to assess the cognitive performance of mice after 8 weeks of chronic D-Gal exposure. The expression of oxidative-stress biomarkers in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and caspase-3 in the hippocampus (HIP) were also determined. KEY FINDINGS: The results of the behavioral tests indicated that after chronic D-Gal exposure, the spatial memory of mice was seriously impaired, whereas nonspatial cognition remained intact. D-Gal exposure also induced more significant changes in malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities in the HIP than in the PFC. Furthermore, chronic D-Gal exposure triggered more substantial caspase-3 overexpression in the HIP than in the PFC. SIGNIFICANCE: Together, these findings suggest the impairment of spatial, but not nonspatial, cognitive ability after chronic D-Gal exposure. The differential nature of this impairment might be due to the more substantial reduction of antioxidant enzyme activities and more severe neuronal apoptosis mediated by caspase-3 in the HIP. The present results also indicate that the HIP and HIP-dependent spatial cognition might be more susceptible to oxidative stress during senescence or other pathological processes.
