JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY
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2024
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IF 4.8
Anhui Wang,Xue Yang,Jiachun Lin,Yali Wang,Jinni Yang,Yuting Zhang,Yuan Tian,Haijuan Dong,Zunjian Zhang,Rui Song
Ethnopharmacological relevance Si-Ni-San (SNS), a traditional Chinese medicinal formula derived from Treatise on Febrile Diseases , is considered effective in the treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases based upon thousands of years of clinical practice. However, the bioactive ingredients and underlying mechanisms are still unclear and need further investigation. Aim of the study This study aimed to evaluate the effect, explore the bioactive ingredients and the underlying mechanisms of SNS in ameliorating ulcerative colitis (UC) and associated liver injury in dextran sodium sulphate (DSS)-induced mouse colitis models. Materials and methods The effect of SNS (1.5, 3, 6 g/kg) on 3% DSS-induced acute murine colitis was evaluated by disease activity index (DAI), colon length, inflammatory cytokines, hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) staining, tight junction proteins expression, ALT, AST, and oxidative stress indicators. HPLC-ESI-IT/TOF MS was used to analyze the chemical components of SNS and the main xenobiotics in the colon of UC mice after oral administration of SNS. Network pharmacological study was then conducted based on the main xenobiotics. Flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry techniques were used to demonstrate the inhibitory effect of SNS on Th17 cells differentiation and the amelioration of Th17/Treg cell imbalance. LC-MS/MS, Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), and western blotting techniques were performed to investigate the oxysterol-Liver X receptor (LXRs) signaling activity in colon. Targeted bile acids metabolomics was conducted to reveal the change of the two major pathways of bile acid synthesis in the liver, and the expression of key metabolic enzymes of bile acids synthesis was characterized by RT-qPCR and western blotting techniques. Results SNS (1.5, 3, 6 g/kg) decreased the DAI scores, protected intestinal mucosa barrier, suppressed the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, improved hepatic and splenic enlargement and alleviated liver injury in a dose-dependent manner. A total of 22 components were identified in the colon of SNS (6 g/kg) treated colitis mice, and the top 10 components ranked by relative content were regarded as the potential effective chemical components of SNS, and used to conduct network pharmacology research. The efficacy of SNS was mediated by a reduction of Th17 cell differentiation, restoration of Th17/Treg cell homeostasis in the colon and spleen, and the experimental results were consistent with our hypothesis and the biological mechanism predicted by network pharmacology. Mechanistically, SNS regulated the concentration of 25-OHC and 27-OHC by up-regulated CH25H, CYP27A1 protein expression in colon, thus affected the expression and activity of LXR, ultimately impacted Th17 differentiation and Th17/Treg balance. It was also found that SNS repressed the increase of hepatic cholesterol and reversed the shift of BA synthesis to the acidic pathway in UC mice, which decreased the proportion of non-12-OH BAs in total bile acids (TBAs) and further ameliorated colitis and concomitant liver injury. Conclusions This study set the stage for considering SNS as a multi-organ benefited anti-colitis prescription based on the significant effect of ameliorating intestinal and liver damage, and revealed that derivatives of cholesterol, namely oxysterols and bile acids, were closely involved in the mechanism of SNS anti-colitis effect.
研究领域:
中药学
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药理学
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免疫学
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产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY
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2022
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IF 5.195
Yajie Cai,Xiaojiaoyang Li,Qi Han,Jinzhao Bai,Qi Zheng,Rong Sun,Runping Liu
Ethnopharmacological relevance Ulcerative colitis (UC) is widely believed to be a leading risk factor of colorectal cancer . Gut microbiota is a known vital player in the progression of UC. Si–Ni-San (SNS) has been considered to effectively treat colitis in clinical practice during thousands of years, yet whether SNS ameliorated acute colitis mouse model by modulating intestinal flora has not been distinctly elucidated. Aim of the study Our study aimed to elucidate the effect of SNS against acute murine colitis and focused on the underlying mechanisms of SNS targeting gut microbiota . Materials and methods 16S RNA sequencing, molecular biological analysis, and fecal microbiota transplants (FMT) were conducted to reveal the mechanisms of SNS in regulating gut microbiota. Results In our study, SNS dramatically inhibited DSS-induced acute inflammatory responses by improving gut microbiota dysbiosis , as evidenced by decreased abundance proinflammatory species, upregulated abundance of anti-inflammatory species and potentially altered microbiota metabolite metabolism. Additionally, intestinal flora knockout and FMT experiments confirmed that the therapeutic effect of SNS on colitis was dependent on gut microbiota, and specifically on favoring the growth of potential probiotics , Akkermansia genus. Furthermore, we found that SNS alone and SNS combined with Akkermansia muciniphila ( A. muciniphila ) increased Mucin 2 (MUC2) production, thus enhancing the competitive edge of A. muciniphila among pathogenic gut microbiota. Conclusion Our study shed lights on the underlying mechanism of SNS in attenuating acute murine colitis from the perspective of intestinal flora and provides novel insights into the discovery of adjacent therapeutic strategy against colitis based on SNS and probiotics. Classification Gastro-intestinal system
研究领域:
消化系统
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药理学
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微生物学
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免疫学
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产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
PHYTOMEDICINE
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2021
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IF 5.34
Yajie Cai,Bing Xu,Fei Zhou,Jianzhi Wu,Shuo Li,Qi Zheng,Yajing Li,Xiaojiaoyang Li,Feng Gao,Shifen Dong,Runping Liu
Background Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic relapsing inflammatory disease that markedly elevates the risk of colon cancers and results in disability. The disrupted immune homeostasis has been recognized as a predominant player in the pathogenesis of UC. However, the overall remission rate of current therapies based on immunoregulation is still unsatisfactory. Si-Ni-San (SNS) has been found effective in relieving UC through thousands of years of clinical practice, yet the specific mechanisms of the protective effect of SNS were not fully elucidated. Purpose We aim to investigate the therapeutic effects of SNS against the development of chronic colitis and the underlying mechanisms. Methods We established a DSS-induced chronic experimental colitis mouse model to evaluate the effect of SNS. RNA-sequencing, bioinformatic analysis, and in vitro studies were performed to investigate the underlying mechanisms. Results Our data demonstrated that SNS significantly ameliorated chronic experimental colitis via inhibiting the expression of genes associated with inflammatory responses. Interestingly, SNS significantly suppressed DSS-induced type I interferon (IFN) responses instead of directly downregulating the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as Il-6. In vitro study further found that SNS selectively inhibited STING and RIG-I pathway-induced type I IFN responses by modulating TBK1- and IRF3-dependent signaling transduction. SNS also suppressed the expression of IFN-stimulated genes by directly inhibiting STAT1 and STAT2 activation. Conclusion Our study not only provides novel insights into the pathogenic role of type I IFN responses in colitis but also suggested that SNS or bioactive compounds derived from SNS may serve as novel therapeutic strategies for the treatment of UC via interfering type I IFN-mediated inflammation.
研究领域:
药理学
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免疫学
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胃肠病学
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分子生物学
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产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
Current Computer-Aided Drug Design
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2024
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IF 1.5
Na An,Dongxing Zhang,Jile Xin,Xinyi Zhang,Zhijuan Zhang,Ligang Ma,Le Zhao,Huimin Wu,Weisheng Feng,Xiaoke Zheng
Background: Si-Ni-San (SNS) is the formula prescription of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) with anti-depression properties, but its underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Objective: This study provides novel approaches for the study of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and offers new opportunities for exploring the pharmacological properties of SNS. Methods: The ingredients in SNS implicated in the treatment of depression were identified and studied using network pharmacology. SwissTargetPrediction and molecular docking were used to study the interaction of SNS ingredients and their targets. The protective effect of these ingredients and their cocktail in rat pheochromocytoma cells (PC12) exposed to corticosterone (Cor) were evaluated using the CCK-8 assay, Hoechst 33342 staining, 2',7'-dichlorodihydro fluorescein diacetate (H2DCFDA) staining, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay, and in-cell Western analysis. Results: The network pharmacology study showed that the HIF-1 signaling pathway was the most crucial pathway implicated in the anti-depressive property of SNS. MAPK1 (ERK2), MAPK3 (ERK1), AKT1, VEGFA, STAT3, and EGF were identified as hub target proteins in the HIF-1 signaling pathway. Quercetin, naringenin, licochalcone A, and kaempferol from SNS, which targeted the six proteins mentioned above, were used to create a cocktail. This cocktail exerted protective properties, decreased the oxidative stress in PC12 exposed to Cor, and successfully regulated the expressions of AKT1, p-AKT1, ERK1, ERK2, p-ERK1/2, STAT3, p- STAT3, and VEGFA induced by Cor exposure. The SwissTargetPrediction and molecular docking study showed that the cocktail may regulate the HIF-1 signaling pathway by directly binding with AKT1 and MAPK1. Conclusion: The cocktail from SNS comprised of quercetin, naringenin, licochalcone A, and kaempferol exerts anti-depression potentiality by modulating the HIF-1 signaling pathway via direct interactions with AKT1 and MAPK1.
研究领域:
神经药理学
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传统中药研究
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分子生物学
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药效学
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细胞信号传导
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DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
Chinese Medicine
·
2026
·Vol. 21
·期 1
·34
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IF 5.7
Fan Haibo,Hou Yalei,Li Yue,Zheng Zhiwen,Wang Xuelun,Li Yunfeng,Li Yongmin
Background Metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is a common metabolic disease with complex pathogenesis and lack of effective treatment. Si-Ni-San (SNS), a traditional Chinese medicine, has emerged as a promising candidate for MAFLD treatment. However, the protective mechanism remains unclear. Methods C57BL/6N mice were fed with high-fat diet (HFD) for 12 weeks to establish MAFLD mouse model. Concurrently, oleic acid-induced HepG2 cells were used in vitro as a cellular model for MAFLD. The effects of SNS and the positive drug obeticholic acid on hepatic lipid droplets deposition in MAFLD mice and cell models were evaluated. The expression levels of farnesoid X receptor (FXR) and glycerol 3-phosphate acyltransferase 4 (GPAT4) were detected by western blot. The siRNA and dual-luciferase reporter assay were used to detect the interaction between FXR and GPAT4. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to identify the active components in the SNS aqueous solution, and their binding affinities to targets were detected through molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulations, and surface plasmon resonance (SPR). Results The active ingredients of SNS were identified by HPLC. SNS ameliorated hepatic lipid droplets deposition in both mouse and cellular models of MAFLD. SNS up-regulated the expression of FXR and down-regulated the expression of GPAT4 in hepatic tissues, thereby modulating proteins involved in hepatic lipolysis and lipophagy. FXR reduced lipid droplets accumulation by inhibiting GPAT4. The dual-luciferase reporter assay confirmed that FXR transcriptionally regulated and inhibited GPAT4 expression. Furthermore, molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations predicted potential interactions between the active components of SNS and the FXR and GPAT4 proteins, with the binding affinity for FXR being subsequently confirmed through SPR analysis. Conclusion This study provided a new mechanistic exploration for FXR in improving MAFLD and broadened the research direction on the mechanisms by which SNS reduced hepatic lipid droplets deposition. It also offers a molecular dynamics basis for subsequent studies on how active components in SNS exert their effects through binding to FXR.
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产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
Drug Design Development and Therapy
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2023
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IF 4.8
Ning Zhang,Tong Liu,Jianan Wang,Yingying Xiao,Ying Zhang,Jun Dai,Zhihong Ma,Donglai Ma
Background Metabolic associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is a chronic disease characterized by excessive lipid deposition in the liver without alcohol or other clear liver-damaging factors. AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)/silencing information regulator (SIRT)1 signaling pathway plays an important role in MAFLD development. Si-Ni-San (SNS), a traditional Chinese medicine, has shown reducing hepatic lipid deposition in MAFLD rats, however, the underlying mechanisms of SNS are barely understood.Purpose The aim of this research was to investigate the mechanisms of SNS in reducing hepatic lipid deposition in MAFLD rats by regulating AMPK/SIRT1 signaling pathways.Methods The components of SNS were determined by high performance liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS) analysis. MAFLD rats were induced by high-fat and high-cholesterol diet (HFHCD), and treated by SNS. SNS-containing serum and Compound C (AMPK inhibitor) were used to treat palmitic acid (PA)-induced HepG2 cells. To elucidate the potential mechanism, lipid synthesis-related proteins (SREBP-1c and FAS), fatty acid oxidation (PPARα and CPT-1), and AMPK/SIRT1 signaling pathway (p-AMPK and SIRT1) were assessed by Western blot.Results SNS improved serum lipid levels, liver function and reduced hepatic lipid deposition in MAFLD rats. SNS-containing serum reduced lipid deposition in PA-induced HepG2 cells. SNS could up-regulate protein expressions of PPARα, CPT-1, p-AMPK and SIRT1, and down-regulate protein expressions of SREBP-1c and FAS. Similar effects of SNS-containing serum were observed in PA-induced HepG2 cells. Meanwhile, Compound C weakened the therapeutic effects of SNS-containing serum on lipid deposition.Conclusion SNS could reduce hepatic lipid deposition by inhibiting lipid synthesis and promoting fatty acid oxidation, which might be related with activating the AMPK/SIRT1 signaling pathway. This study could provide a theoretical basis for the clinical use of SNS to treat MAFLD.
研究领域:
药理学
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肝病学
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中医药
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分子生物学
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产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
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