Background: Through the use of network pharmacology and molecular docking approaches, this study will examine the pharmacological effects of Sanwu Huangqin Tang on restless legs syndrome in order to better understand the mechanism of action of Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) on RLS. Method: Utilise the TCMSP database to collect and select the drug components of Sanwu Huangqin Tang, and the Uniprot database to identify pertinent targets; RLS-related disease targets were obtained from GeneCards, DrugBank, and OMIM databases; and STRING and Cytoscape 3.9.1 software were used to generate an interaction network. KEGG pathway analysis and GO enrichment analysis were performed utilizing the DAVID database. Use Autodock for analyzing the relationships between targets and core components. Result: By using a network pharmacology approach, 83 active ingredients and 50 drug-disease intersecting targets were derived for Sanwu Huangqin Tang. The molecular docking results showed that the drug components had strong affinity with the average target targets. Conclusions: This study provides new insights into the mechanism through which Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) treats Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS). Furthermore, it lays the foundation for additional research into the mechanism of treatment for RLS through the intervention that addresses various targets and pathways using the active ingredients identified by Sanwu Huangqin Tang.
Background: Compatibility is a characteristic of the clinical application of traditional Chinese medicine, often leading to enhanced therapeutic effects. In the treatment of cerebral ischemia, blood-activating and open orifices herbs are frequently used individually; however, their combination is not commonly practiced. This study aims to investigate the impact of combining safflower and borneol as examples of open orifices herbs and blood-activating herbs on the neurovascular unit in rats with ischemic stroke. The objective is to determine whether this combination exhibits superior therapeutic efficacy compared to using borneol or safflower alone while exploring its underlying mechanism. These findings may provide novel insights for clinical treatments. Methods: SD male rats were randomly divided into 6 groups: sham operation group, model group, borneol group (0.1 g/kg), safflower group (5 g/kg), borneol combined with safflower group (0.1 g/kg + 5 g/kg) and nimodipine group (0.01 g/kg). The middle cerebral artery cerebral ischemia (MCAO) model were prepared after continuous intragastric administration for 7 days in each group, the neurological function of each group were scored 24h after operation, and water content in brain tissue were measured by weighing method. The activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and the contents of nitric oxide (NO) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in brain tissue and serum were determined by spectrophotometry, and the mRNA expressions of matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2), tight junction protein 1 (ZO-1), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) were detected by Real time PCR. Result: Compared with the model group, the group treated with borneol combined with safflower exhibited a significant decrease in the neural function score of MCAO rats ( P < 0.01). Additionally, it led to a reduction in brain tissue water content ( P < 0.01), elevated SOD activity, and reduced levels of NO and MDA in both serum and brain tissue ( P < 0.01 or P < 0.05). Moreover, this treatment resulted in a decrease in the mRNA expression of MMP-2 and an increase in ZO-1 in brain tissue, along with an increase in the mRNA expression of VEGF and BDNF ( P < 0.01). Conclusion: Borneol combined with safflower demonstrates a protective effect on the neurovascular unit in rats with ischemic stroke. This effect is likely associated with increased SOD activity, reduced MDA and NO content in both serum and brain tissue of MCAO rats, and a decrease in MMP-2 mRNA expression in brain tissue, coupled with an increase in ZO-1, VEGF, and BDNF mRNA expression. These effects were superior to those observed with borneol or safflower administered alone.
Drug combination based on synergistic effect is commonly used in clinical practice, especially in the application of traditional medicine. Exploring the combination mechanism could help to better utilize this synergistic advantage. However, current research focuses more on the efficacy enhancing of drugs, while ignoring the toxicity reducing effects. Here, we established two drug synergy patterns based on the different situations of drugs and targets, in order to better illuminate the synergistic mechanism of drugs.
Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is a chronic, progressive, and irreversible pulmonary interstitial disease with unclear pathogenesis. Currently, there are few treatment options for managing PF. Inhalation therapy, as a routine treatment for respiratory diseases, is being used to study the treatment of PF. Some herbal medicines and their active ingredients have been reported to have anti-PF effects. This review aims to provide an overview of the latest developments in inhalation therapy, focusing on the utilization of chemical medicines and herbal medicines for the treatment of PF in both clinical practice and basic research. The inhalation of chemical drugs such as pirfenidone, nintedanib, N-acetylcysteine, and interferon-γ has been shown to demonstrate anti-PF effects. Additionally, the inhalation of various natural products derived from herbal medicines, encompassing polyphenols, alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, terpenoids, and herbal extracts, contributes to the therapeutic management of PF through diverse mechanisms. The inhalation of both chemical and herbal medicines presents promising advantages in the treatment of PF. Further clinical trials are required to investigate the effectiveness, safety, and mechanism of action of inhalation therapy utilizing natural products derived from herbal medicines.
Objective: To predict and analyze the potential Q-markers of Chuanxiong Chatiao Prescription, and the pharmacokinetic properties of pulvis and pills in vivo were studied, which provided a basis for the rational evaluation of the phenomenon of “Different Dosage Forms of the Same Prescription”. Methods and Material: Q-markers analysis of Chuanxiong Chatiao Prescription based on the “Five Principles” (traceability and transmissibility, specificity, effectiveness, prescription compatibility and testability). The content determination method of Q-markers in Chuanxiong Chatiao Prescription was established by UPLC, and the content difference of Q-markers in the two dosage forms ware determined and compared. The Q-markers in rabbit plasma was determined by LC-MS / MS method, and the pharmacokinetic parameters of Q-markers in pulvis and pills were analyzed. Results: A total of 16 potential Q-markers from the “Five Principles” were used, nine components of tetramethylprazine, ferulic acid, glycyrrhizin, glycyrrhizic acid, luteolin, cimicifugoside, senkyunolide Ⅰ, isoimperatorin, nodakenin were identified as Q-markers of Chuanxiong Chatiao Presciption. The content of tetramethylprazine and other components in the pulvis form was found to be significantly higher than that in the pills, while the content of senkyunolide Ⅰ was lower than that in the pills, which may be related to the preparation process of the dosage form and the physicochemical properties of the components. Compared with pulvis, the Tmax and t 1/2 of ferulic acid and other components in pills were significantly prolonged. To a certain extent, it can explain the classical theory of traditional Chinese medicine “Components in pulvis release quickly and take effect in fast-acting manner, while in pills release slowly and take effect in slow-acting”. Meanwhile, the Cmax and AUC0-t of tetramethylprazine and other components in pills were higher than those in pulvis, which showed unexpected pharmacokinetic characteristics, indicating the complexity of compounding and the importance of dosage form design. Conclusions: A method for the determination of Q-markers content was established by UPLC, which provide reference for the quality control of Chuanxiong Chatiao Prescription. In vivo studies have found the pharmacokinetic parameters indicate the absorption and distribution characteristics of pulvis and pills. However, it is also found that the release behavior of different components not only affected by the dosage form but also closely related to their own physical and chemical properties
Objective Using the stable isotope ratio method for the authenticity identification and variety identification of refined honey. Methods In this paper, a total of 17 samples of different varieties of refined honey were used to obtain refined honey proteins by precipitation with sodium tungstate solution and sulphuric acid solution. The isotope mass spectrometer was used to simultaneously detect the δ 13 C values of refined honey proteins and refined honey as well as the δ 18 O and δ 2 H values of refined honey, processed of the results obtained, analysed the authenticity of the samples and conduct a variety identification study. Results Tested of the resulting honey samples, the results showed that four batches of refined honey did not up to standard, two batches of C-4 vegetable syrup were detected as adulterated, and two batches of protein were not detected. The δ 18 O and δ 2 H values of refined honey were also found to be effective in distinguishing the varietal origin of refined honey to a certain extent. Conclusions The stable isotope ratio method is useful in the authenticity identification of refined honey, and provides new ideas to further promote the authenticity of refined honey and variety identification research.
