Integration of Zebrafish Model and Network Pharmacology to Explore Possible Action Mechanisms of Morinda officinalis for Treating Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis (OP) is a metabolic bone disease affecting nearly 200 million individuals globally. Morinda officinalis F.C.How (MOH) has long been used as a traditional herbal medicine for the treatment of bone fractures and joint diseases in China. However, it still remains unclear how the compounds in MOH work synergistically for treating OP. In this study, we used prednisolone (PNSL)‐induced zebrafish OP model to screen the antiosteoporosis components in MOH. A network pharmacology approach was further proposed to explore the underlying mechanism of MOH on OP. The PNSL‐induced zebrafish model validated that two anthraquinones, one iridoid glycoside, and two saccharides exerted antiosteoporotic effect. We constructed the components‐targets network and obtained the enriched Gene Ontology (GO) terms and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways. A total of 26 candidate compounds of MOH and 257 related targets could probably treat OP through regulating osteoclast differentiation and MAPK signaling pathway. Our work developed a strategy to screen the antiosteoporosis components and explore the underlying mechanism of MOH for treating OP at a network pharmacology level.     

Behaviour-changing ingredients in soft drinks: an experiment developed by school children in partnership with a research scientist

A team of six children (13–14 years old) developed and conducted an experiment to assess the behaviour of the planarian flatworm, an invertebrate animal model, before, during and after exposure to chemicals. The aim of the project was to engage children in pharmacology and toxicology research. First, the concept that exposure to chemicals can affect our nervous systems and alter our behaviour was introduced by the scientist. Then pupils were asked to conduct independent online research on chemicals we consume and used this information to select chemicals of interest. Caffeine and the artificial sweetener aspartame were chosen. As aspartame is broken down in the body, the aspartame metabolites phenylalanine, methanol and aspartic acid were also tested. Pupils assessed flatworm behaviour and determined that phenylalanine and methanol altered behaviour. The experiment demonstrated that chemicals can affect the nervous system and can be used in classrooms to illustrate that chemicals, such as recreational drugs, can alter behaviour. Students found the experiential nature of the programme valuable, appreciated the active components and considered the scientist as an ‘expert’. This partnership contributes to academic knowledge in children and provides insight into teaching and raises awareness of the curriculum as a tool of social change.     

A novel model of a biomechanically induced osteoarthritis-like cartilage for pharmacological in vitro studies

Excessive pressure or overload induces and aggravates osteoarthritic changes in articular cartilage, but the underlying biomechanical forces are largely ignored in existing pharmacological in vitro models that are used to investigate drugs against osteoarthritis (OA). Here, we introduce a novel in vitro model to perform pathophysiological and pharmacological investigations, in which cartilage explants are subjected to intermittent cyclic pressure, and characterize its ability to mimic OA-like tissue reactivity. Mechanical loading time-dependently increased the biosynthesis, content and retention of fibronectin (Fn), whereas collagen metabolism remained unchanged. This protocol upregulated the production and release of proteoglycans (PGs). The release of PGs from explants was significantly inhibited by a matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) inhibitor, suggesting the involvement of such proteinases in the destruction of the model tissue, similar to what is observed in human OA cartilage. In conclusion, the metabolic alterations in our new biomechanical in vitro model are similar to those of early human OA cartilage, and our pharmacological prevalidation with an MMP-inhibitor supports its value for further in vitro drug studies.     

解酒药剂及保健食品的研究进展

简要回顾了解酒药剂及解酒保健食品的研究进展     

植物蜕皮激素的研究进展

蜕皮激素最早是从昆虫体内分离得到的,现今已有几十种该物质的类似物从植物中发现。综述了植物蜕皮激素类化合物的结构特点、资源分布、药理活性和应用方面近年来的研究情况。     

A survey of web resources and tools for the study of TCM network pharmacology

Background: Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) treats diseases in a holistic manner, while TCM formulae are multi-component, multi-target agents at the molecular level. Thus there are many parallels between the key ideas of TCM pharmacology and network pharmacology. These years, TCM network pharmacology has developed as an interdisciplinary of TCM science and network pharmacology, which studies the mechanism of TCM at the molecular level and in the context of biological networks. It provides a new research paradigm that can use modern biomedical science to interpret the mechanism of TCM, which is promising to accelerate the modernization and internationalization of TCM. Results: In this paper we introduce state-of-the-art free data sources, web servers and softwares that can be used in the TCM network pharmacology, including databases of TCM, drug targets and diseases, web servers for the prediction of drug targets, and tools for network and functional analysis. Conclusions: This review could help experimental pharmacologists make better use of the existing data and methods in their study of TCM.     

Insights into the antineoplastic mechanism of Chelidonium majus via systems pharmacology approach

Background: The antineoplastic activity of Chelidonium majus has been reported, but its mechanism of action (MoA) is unsuspected. The emerging theory of systems pharmacology may be a useful approach to analyze the complicated MoA of this multi-ingredient traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Methods: We collected the ingredients and related compound-target interactions of C. majus from several databases. The bSDTNBI (balanced substructure-drug-target network-based inference) method was applied to predict each ingredient’s targets. Pathway enrichment analysis was subsequently conducted to illustrate the potential MoA, and prognostic genes were identified to predict the certain types of cancers that C. majus might be beneficial in treatment. Bioassays and literature survey were used to validate the in silico results. Results: Systems pharmacology analysis demonstrated that C. majus exerted experimental or putative interactions with 18 cancer-associated pathways, and might specifically act on 13 types of cancers. Chelidonine, sanguinarine, chelerythrine, berberine, and coptisine, which are the predominant components of C. majus, may suppress the cancer genes by regulating cell cycle, inducing cell apoptosis and inhibiting proliferation. Conclusions: The antineoplastic MoA of C. majus was investigated by systems pharmacology approach. C. majus exhibited promising pharmacological effect against cancer, and may consequently be useful material in further drug development. The alkaloids are the key components in C. majus that exhibit anticancer activity.     

Computational methods and applications for quantitative systems pharmacology

Background: Quantitative systems pharmacology (QSP) is an emerging discipline that integrates diverse data to quantitatively explore the interactions between drugs and multi-scale systems including small compounds, nucleic acids, proteins, pathways, cells, organs and disease processes. Results: Various computational methods such as ADME/T evaluation, molecular modeling, logical modeling, network modeling, pathway analysis, multi-scale systems pharmacology platforms and virtual patient for QSP have been developed. We reviewed the major progresses and broad applications in medical guidance, drug discovery and exploration of pharmacodynamic material basis and mechanism of traditional Chinese medicine. Conclusion: QSP has significant achievements in recent years and is a promising approach for quantitative evaluation of drug efficacy and systematic exploration of mechanisms of action of drugs.     

基于网络药理学和分子对接探讨藏麻黄挥发性成分对支气管炎的作用机制

麻黄(Ephedrae Herba)具有发汗散寒、宣肺平喘、利水消肿的功效。现代研究表明麻黄对治疗支气管、哮喘有疗效。藏麻黄(Ephedra saxatilis)为西藏特有的麻黄属植物,其根、茎具有特殊香气,且目前其挥发性成分未有报道。为评价挥发性成分对支气管炎作用,用气质联用仪测定分析藏麻黄根、茎挥发性成分,并结合网络药理学和分子对接方法分析挥发性成分治疗支气管炎的关键靶点。分析检测到67个挥发性化合物,茎中含有挥发性主要成分为2,3,5,6-四甲基吡嗪(10.92%)、Z-9-十五烯醇(9.15%)、二羟基苯乙酮(7.92%);根含有的挥发性主要成分为亚油酸(7.81%)、红没药醇(7.1%)、Z-9-十五烯醇(5.98%)。有34个挥发性成分能够作用32个支气管炎疾病靶点。蛋白互作网络分析预测IL6、TNF、PTGS2、CXCL8为藏麻黄挥发性成分治疗支气管可能的潜在靶点。这些靶点与挥发性成分丁子香酚、月桂酸、反式法尼醇、α-萜品醇、榄香醇和棕榈酸6种化合物靶点相互结合程度高,且分子对接效果好。本研究推测藏麻黄挥发性成分对支气管炎的治疗作用机制可能是通过抑菌作用参与炎症反应,并通过抑制TNF、IL-17、Toll样受体等炎症与免疫信号通路中IL6、TNF、PTGS2、CXCL8的表达,从而起到治疗支气管炎的作用。研究结果为挖掘藏麻黄挥发性成分中治疗支气管炎靶标分子及其产品开发提供重要参考依据。     

康脂口服液药效学研究

通过体内外血栓形成实验证明康脂口服液可明显延长大鼠血栓形成时间,减少血栓长度和重量.对高血脂大、小鼠血总脂、总胆固醇、甘油三酯均有不同程度降低作用,对高血脂大鼠低密度脂蛋白增高有明显抑制作用.此外可增加麻醉犬脑血流量,降低脑血管阻力,减轻脑缺血后脑水肿,降低血粘度,改善微循环,降低血小板聚集率.