This study was to explore the effective components, potential targets, and pathways of Jianpi Qushi Huayu Formula (JQHF) for the treatment of chronic glomerulonephritics (CGN). First, the Chinese Medicine System Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform (TCMSP), GeneCards, and OMIM databases were used to collect the major active components of JQHF and potential therapeutic targets of CGN. Then, functional enrichment analysis was performed to clarify the mechanisms of the JQHF on CGN. Subsequently, molecular docking was simulated to assess the binding ability of key targets and major active components. Finally, quantitative real-time PCR and western blot were performed for experimental verification of cells in vitro. A total of 55 active ingredients contained and 220 putative identified targets were screened from JQHF, of which 112 overlapped with the targets of CGN and were considered potential therapeutic targets. Then, we found quercetin and kaempferol are two key ingredients of JQHF, which may act on the top 10 screened targets of PPI, affecting CGN through related signal transduction pathways. Subsequently, molecular docking predicted that quercetin and kaempferol bind firm with the top 10 core targets of PPI. Further experiment verified some results and showed that JQHF has protected glomerular mesangial cells from lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation by inhibiting expressions of IL6, TNF-α, and AKT1, and activating expressions of VEGFA. Based on network pharmacology, we explored the multi-component, multi-target, and multi-pathway characteristics of JQHF in treating CGN, and found that JQHF could act on IL6, TNF-α, VEGFA, and AKT1 to exert the effect of anti-CGN, which provided new ideas and methods for further research on the mechanism of JQHF in treating CGN.
Background: As documented in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, Gardeniae fructus Praeparatus (GFP) can cool the blood during hemostasis and treat various internal hemorrhagic diseases. However, the underlying mechanisms are not yet well understood. This work was designed to decipher the possible mechanism by which GFP prevents hemorrhage. The integration of pharmacodynamics-based and bioinformatics-based methods provided evidence to support the clinical effects of GFP in treating bleeding.Methods: Using ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) analysis, we quantified the main active ingredients for a preliminary quality assessment of GFP. The pharmacology study was conducted to confirm the essential antihemorrhagic effects of GFP. A rat model of ethanol-induced gastric hemorrhage was established and was followed by intervention with GFP in low, middle, and high doses (4.5, 9, 18 g/kg).Gastric tissues were harvested for macroscopic and histological evaluation of lesions. The contents of thromboxane B2 (TXB 2 ) and 6-keto-prostaglandin-F1α (6-keto-PGF 1α ) in the serum were determined.Additionally, network pharmacology was proposed to illuminate the potential mechanisms. Following the collection of GFP compositions, the compound-and hemorrhage-related targets were retrieved from public databases. The protein-protein interaction (PPI), gene ontology, pathways analysis, and molecular docking were performed for targets of GFP in gastrointestinal bleeding. Results:The study found ten main active ingredients that could be used for quality control of GFP.Importantly, the middle and high doses of GFP were found to promote the healing of gastric bleeding.The content of 6-keto-PGF 1α was significantly degraded in the middle and high treated groups (P<0.05).The level of TXB 2 was augmented by a middle (P<0.05) and high dose of GFP. Further, we constructed the network of candidate ingredients and hemorrhage-related targets. Pathway analysis predicted the mechanisms associated with interleukin 4 and interleukin 13 signaling and platelet activation. PPI analysis identified subnetworks with biological functions and also sifted hub targets that affected the antihemorrhagic progress. The candidate proteins had a good binding force with major components.Conclusions: GFP exhibits a promising effect in ameliorating bleeding, with the relevant molecular mechanisms possibly being related to the regulation of the immune system and platelet activation. Therefore, GFP can potentially exert a protective effect on gastrointestinal bleeding in clinic.
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