Jianyong Zhang1, Rixin Liang2, Lan Wang2, Bin Yang3. 1. Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China; Key Laboratory of Basic Pharmacology of Ministry of Education and Joint International Research Laboratory of Ethnomedicine of Ministry of Education, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China. 2. Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China. 3. Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China. Electronic address: ybinmm@126.com.
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: The danshen (the root of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bge.)-shanzha (the fruit of Crataegus pinnatifida Bge. var. major N.E.Br.) (DS) herb combination is a commonly used traditional Chinese medicine with cardiovascular disease (CVD) treatment potential. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, we investigated the anti-atherosclerotic effects and mechanisms of DS by the integration of network pharmacology and polypharmacology. Eight main components were selected for target fishing by PharmMapper. RESULTS: The network pharmacological study indicated that DS may target 41 proteins and 16 pathways associated with inflammation, lipid metabolism and endothelial protection, which indicates that DS probably adjusts these processes as part of its anti-atherosclerotic activities. Furthermore, this hypothesis was verified by polypharmacology using an atherosclerotic model. Histopathological examination showed that DS inhibited pathological changes in the arteries of atherosclerotic rats and reduced the intima-media thickness (IMT). DS significantly reduced the levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) and increased the high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) level in the blood. DS also decreased the concentrations of interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-18, indicating anti-inflammation activity. In addition, DS increased the serum levels of nitric oxide (NO) and 6-keto-prostaglandin F1α (6-keto-PGF1α) and decreased the serum levels of endothelin (ET) and thromboxane B2 (TXB2), indicating an endothelial protective effect. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, DS has an anti-atherosclerotic ability to lower lipid concentrations and to protect endothelial function, and it also has anti-inflammatory activity.
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: The danshen (the root of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bge.)-shanzha (the fruit of Crataegus pinnatifida Bge. var. major N.E.Br.) (DS) herb combination is a commonly used traditional Chinese medicine with cardiovascular disease (CVD) treatment potential. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, we investigated the anti-atherosclerotic effects and mechanisms of DS by the integration of network pharmacology and polypharmacology. Eight main components were selected for target fishing by PharmMapper. RESULTS: The network pharmacological study indicated that DS may target 41 proteins and 16 pathways associated with inflammation, lipid metabolism and endothelial protection, which indicates that DS probably adjusts these processes as part of its anti-atherosclerotic activities. Furthermore, this hypothesis was verified by polypharmacology using an atherosclerotic model. Histopathological examination showed that DS inhibited pathological changes in the arteries of atheroscleroticrats and reduced the intima-media thickness (IMT). DS significantly reduced the levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) and increased the high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) level in the blood. DS also decreased the concentrations of interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-18, indicating anti-inflammation activity. In addition, DS increased the serum levels of nitric oxide (NO) and 6-keto-prostaglandin F1α (6-keto-PGF1α) and decreased the serum levels of endothelin (ET) and thromboxane B2 (TXB2), indicating an endothelial protective effect. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, DS has an anti-atherosclerotic ability to lower lipid concentrations and to protect endothelial function, and it also has anti-inflammatory activity.
Keywords:
Atherosclerosis; Experimental pharmacology; Fruit of Crataegus pinnatifida Bge var. major N.E.Br.; Network pharmacology; Root of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bge
Authors: Ifrahim Iqbal Chowdhury; Md Atiar Rahman; Mohammad A Hashem; M Mosharef Hossain Bhuiyan; Dina Hajjar; Walla Alelwani; Arwa A Makki; Md Areeful Haque; Jitbanjong Tangpong; M Taher Bin Bakhtiar Journal: Animal Model Exp Med Date: 2020-04-29
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