Exploring the Mechanism of Buyang Huanwu Decoction Alleviating Restenosis by Regulating VSMC Phenotype Switching and Proliferation by Network Pharmacology and Molecular Docking

Abstract

Background: Buyang Huanwu Decoction (BHD) is used to regulate blood circulation and clear collaterals and is widely used in coronary heart disease. However, the active compounds and the mechanism of BHD used to treat restenosis are less understood. Objective: The study aimed to explore the potential mechanism of Buyang Huanwu decoction (BHD) for the treatment of restenosis using network pharmacology and molecular docking experiments. Methods: The bioactive components of BHD and their corresponding targets were retrieved from the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology (TCMSP) and Encyclopaedia of Traditional Chinese Medicine (ETCM) databases as well as literature. Restenosis-associated therapeutic genes were identified from the OMIM, Drugbank, GEO, and DisGeNET databases. Genes related to the vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) phenotype were obtained from the gene ontology (GO) database and literature. The core target genes for the drug-disease-VSMC phenotype were identified using the Venn tool and Cytoscape software. Moreover, the “drug-component-target-pathway” network was constructed and analyzed, and pathway enrichment analysis was performed. The connection between the main active components and core targets was analyzed using the AutoDock tool, and PyMOL was used to visualize the results. Result: The “compound-target-disease” network included 80 active ingredients and 599 overlapping targets. Among the bioactive components, quercetin, ligustrazine, ligustilide, hydroxysafflor yellow A, and dihydrocapsaicin had high degree values, and the core targets included TP53, MYC, APP, UBC, JUN, EP300, TGFB1, UBB, SP1, MAPK1, SMAD2, CTNNB1, FOXO3, PIN1, EGR1, TCF4, FOS, SMAD3, and CREBBP. A total of 365 items were obtained from the GO functional enrichment analysis (P < 0.05), whereas the enrichment analysis of the KEGG pathway identified 30 signaling pathways (P < 0.05), which involved the TGF-β signaling pathway, Wnt signaling pathway, TRAF6-mediated induction of NF-κB and MAPK pathway, TLR7/8 cascade, and others. The molecular docking results revealed quercetin, luteolin, and ligustilide to have good affinity with the core targets MYC and TP53. Conclusion: The active ingredients in BHD might act on TP53, MYC, APP, UBC, JUN, and other targets through its active components (such as quercetin, ligustrazine, ligustilide, hydroxysafflor yellow A, and dihydrocapsaicin). This action of BHD may be transmitted via the involvement of multiple signaling pathways, including the TGF-β signaling pathway, Wnt signaling pathway, TRAF6-mediated induction of NF-κB and MAPK pathway, and TLR7/8 cascade, to treat restenosis by inhibiting the phenotype switching and proliferation of VSMC.

Effect of modified Buyang huanwu decoction on hemorheology, myocardial remodeling, serum soluble CD40 ligand and serum soluble P-selectin in patients with acute myocardial infarctionafter percutaneous coronary intervention

“…Therefore, the treatment of qi deficiency and blood stasis after PCI should be based on invigorating qi and removing blood stasis [6]. However, the decoction focuses mostly on invigorating qi, in addition to activating blood circulation and dredging collaterals, all of which are consistent with pathologies seen after PCI [7]. Therefore, the role of the decoction in AMI after PCI is worthy of further studies to investigate its effect on AMI patients.…”