Network Pharmacology-Based Study of the Underlying Mechanisms of Huangqi Sijunzi Decoction for Alzheimer’s Disease

Abstract

Background. Huangqi Sijunzi decoction (HQSJZD) is a commonly used conventional Chinese herbal medicine prescription for invigorating Qi, tonifying Yang, and removing dampness. Modern pharmacology and clinical applications of HQSJZD have shown that it has a certain curative effect on Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Methods. The active components and targets of HQSJZD were searched in the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform (TCMSP). The genes corresponding to the targets were retrieved using UniProt and GeneCard database. The herb-compound-target network and protein-protein interaction (PPI) network were constructed by Cytoscape. The core targets of HQSJZD were analysed by Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG). The main active compounds of HQSJZD were docked with acetylcholinesterase (AChE). In vitro experiments were conducted to detect the inhibitory and neuroprotective effects of AChE. Results. Compound-target network mainly contained 132 compounds and 255 corresponding targets. The main compounds contained quercetin, kaempferol, formononetin, isorhamnetin, hederagenin, and calycosin. Key targets contained AChE, PTGS2, PPARG, IL-1B, GSK3B, etc. There were 1708 GO items in GO enrichment analysis and 310 signalling pathways in KEGG, mainly including the cAMP signalling pathway, the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signalling pathway, serotonergic synapses, the calcium signalling pathway, type II diabetes mellitus, arginine and proline metabolism, and the longevity regulating pathway. Molecular docking showed that hederagenin and formononetin were the top 2 compounds of HQSJZD, which had a high affinity with AChE. And formononetin has a good neuroprotective effect, which can improve the oxidative damage of nerve cells. Conclusion. HQSJZD was found to have the potential to treat AD by targeting multiple AD-related targets. Formononetin and hederagenin in HQSJZD may regulate multiple signalling pathways through AChE, which might play a therapeutic role in AD.

[Retracted] A Network Pharmacology Method Combined with Molecular Docking Verification to Explore the Therapeutic Mechanisms Underlying Simiao Pill Herbal Medicine against Hyperuricemia

“…Relevant Targets. Active components of Simiao pill were retrieved from HIT [27], TCMSP [28], and TCMID [29] databases. After duplication deletion, the structures of active components were obtained from the PubChem database [30].…”

Exploring the Potential Molecular Mechanism of Sijunzi Decoction in the Treatment of Non-Segmental Vitiligo Based on Network Pharmacology and Molecular Docking

“… 45 PPARG is an important target of Huangqi SJZD in Alzheimer’s disease. 46 Sirtuins play a role in inflammatory skin diseases, hyperproliferative skin diseases, autoimmune diseases, skin fungal infections and other skin diseases. 47 SIRT1 also plays an important role in vitiligo, but the expression trend is contrary to this article, and further research is needed.…”

“…44,45 Moreover, isorhamnetin and kaempferide, the compounds of Vernonia anthelmintica (L.), may promote melanogenesis by targeting PPAR signaling pathway and other signaling pathways to treat 45 PPARG is an important target of Huangqi SJZD in Alzheimer's disease. 46 Sirtuins play a role in inflammatory skin diseases, hyperproliferative skin diseases, autoimmune diseases, skin fungal infections and other skin diseases. 47 SIRT1 also plays an important role in vitiligo, but the expression trend is contrary to this article, and further research is needed.…”

Qizhi Kebitong Formula Ameliorates Streptozocin-Induced Diabetic Osteoporosis through Regulating the PI3K/Akt/NF-κB Pathway

“…Based on the TCM theory, seven drugs of QKF were formed for clinical application of DOP-related diseases [17]. Among these drugs, HQ (qi-tonifying), JXT (bloodactivating), HNX (kidney-invigorating), and WLX, SZ, and XXC (dredging collateral) were used for the treatment of DOP [18][19][20]. A large number of reports have focused on bones and kidneys [21]; kidney weakness and blood stasis were the main causes of DOP [22].…”