Exploring the Pharmacological Mechanism of Cassiae Semen a Cting on Cataracts Based on a Network Pharmacology Approach

Abstract

BackgroundCassiae Semen (CS) is one of the most well-known herbs used in the treatment of cataracts in China. However, the potential mechanisms of its anti-cataracts effects have not been fully explored.MethodThe active compounds of CS were obtained from TCMSP database, and their targets were retrieved from the TCMSP, STITCH and DrugBank databases. Cataracts related target genes were identified from the GeneCard, Malacard, and OMIM databases. GO and KEGG analysis were performed using DAVID online tools, and Cytoscape were used to construct compound-targets network and protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks, cluster analysis were carried out using MCODE plugin for Cytoscape.ResultsWe obtained 13 active compounds from CS and 105 targets in total to construct a compound-target network, which indicated that emodin, stigmastero, and rhein served as the main ingredients in CS. A total of 238 cataracts related targets were identified from public databases. PPI networks of compound targets and cataract-related targets were constructed and merged to obtained the central network, enrichment analysis showed 50 key targets in the central network enriched in several important signaling pathways, such as thyroid hormone signaling pathway, MAPK signaling pathway, PI3K-Akt signaling pathway. The top 4 genes with higher degree in the central network were TP53, HSP90, ESR1, EGFR, indicating their important roles in the treatment of cataracts.ConclusionsThe present study systematically revealed the multi-target mechanisms of CS on cataracts using network pharmacology approach, and provided indications for further mechanistic studies and also for the development of CS as a potential treatment for cataracts patients.

Investigation into the potential mechanism and molecular targets of Fufang Xueshuantong capsule for the treatment of ischemic stroke based on network pharmacology and molecular docking

“…The parameter selected was "Homo sapiens." The PPI data were derived from the Interacting Proteins (DIP ™ ), Biological General Repository for Interaction Datasets (BioGRID), Human Protein Reference Database (HPRD), IntAct Molecular Interaction Database (IntAct), Molecular INTeraction (MINT) database, and Biomolecular Interaction Network Database (BIND) (Zhong and Fang, 2020). Visualization of the PPI networks of FFXST-related targets and IS-related targets was carried out using Cytoscape 3.8.2 software.…”