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Anticancer Effect of Radix Astragali on Cholangiocarcinoma In Vitro and Its Mechanism via Network Pharmacology.

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND This study used network pharmacology method and cell model to assess the e?ects of Radix Astragali (RA) on cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) and to predict core targets and molecular mechanisms. MATERIAL AND METHODS We performed an in vitro study to assess the effect of RA on CCA using CCK8 assay, the Live-Cell Analysis System, and trypan blue staining. The components and targets of RA were analyzed using the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology database, and genes associated with CCA were retrieved from the GeneCards and OMIM platforms. Protein-protein interactions were analyzed with the STRING platform. The components-targets-disease network was built by Cytoscape. The TIMER database revealed the expression of core targets with diverse immune infiltration levels. GO and KEGG analyses were performed to identify molecular-biology processes and signaling pathways. The predictions were verified by Western blotting. RESULTS Concentration-dependent antitumor activity was confirmed in the cholangiocarcinoma QBC939 cell line treated with RA. RA contained 16 active compounds, with quercetin and kaempferol as the core compounds. The most important biotargets for RA in CCA were caspase 3, MAPK8, MYC, EGFR, and PARP. The TIMER database revealed that the expression of caspase3 and MYC was related with diverse immune infiltration levels of CCA. The results of Western blotting showed RA significantly influenced the expression of the 5 targets that network pharmacology predicted. CONCLUSIONS RA is an active medicinal material that can be developed into a safe and effective multi-targeted anticancer treatment for CCA.

SUBMITTER: Wang Y

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7154565 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Anticancer Effect of Radix Astragali on Cholangiocarcinoma In Vitro and Its Mechanism via Network Pharmacology.

Wang Yixiu Y Dong Bingzi B Xue Weijie W Feng Yujie Y Yang Chenyu C Liu Peng P Cao Jingyu J Zhu Chengzhan C

Medical science monitor : international medical journal of experimental and clinical research 20200404

BACKGROUND This study used network pharmacology method and cell model to assess the eﬀects of Radix Astragali (RA) on cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) and to predict core targets and molecular mechanisms. MATERIAL AND METHODS We performed an in vitro study to assess the effect of RA on CCA using CCK8 assay, the Live-Cell Analysis System, and trypan blue staining. The components and targets of RA were analyzed using the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology database, and genes associated with ...[more]

PMID: 32246704

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Project description:According to current research, the primary active ingredients of Radix Astragali (RA), such as saponins, flavonoids, and polysaccharides, play an important role in anti-inflammatory effects. However, the exact molecular mechanism underlying the action was not elucidated to date. Our research attempted to determine the active components in RA and to investigate the interaction between the active components and targets involved in the anti-inflammation activity by network pharmacology and molecular docking. The active components and targets of RA were screened out by TCMSP. Thereafter, through the "anti-inflammation effect" and "inflammation" as the keywords, disease targets were obtained from the GeneCards database. The PPI network was constructed with Cytoscape 3.8.0 software to screen core targets. The GO function and KEGG analysis were enriched and analyzed through the Metascape platform, obtaining the 3-dimensional view of the core targets from the PDB database, and then, performing molecular docking in AutoDock Vina, a heatmap was constructed using the binding free energies in GraphPad Prism 8. The Discovery Studio software was used for docking analysis, and eventually, the docking results were visualized. We also explored the targets and signaling pathways of Astragaloside IV acting on anti-inflammatory effects via constructing compound-disease-target-pathway network. 18 active components and 45 targets of RA were screened out. The main anti-inflammatory active components of RA were quercetin, Astragaloside IV, kaempferol, 7-O-methylisomucronulatol, and formononetin, and the strongly interacting core proteins were TNF, IL6, IL1B, TLR4, CXCL8, CCL2, IL10, VEGFA, and MMP9. The signal pathways mainly involved include Lipid and atherosclerosis, IL-17 signaling pathway, Chagas disease, leishmaniasis, and TNF signaling pathway. Moreover, molecular docking showed that the 2 most active compounds, Astragaloside IV and kaempferol, could efficiently bind with the targets TNF, TLR4, and IL10. Astragaloside IV may play a part in anti-inflammatory effects through pathways such as HIF-1 signaling pathway, Inflammatory bowel disease and Hepatitis B ect. RA exhibits the characteristic of multicomponent and multitarget synergistic effects in exerting anti-inflammatory effects and the effective component of RA is Astragaloside IV, targeting TNF, TLR4, and IL10.

Project description:Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a critical public health and socioeconomic problem worldwide. The herb pair Astragali Radix (AR)-Radix Angelica Sinensis (RAS) is a common prescribed herbal formula or is added to other Chinese medicine prescriptions for traumatic brain injury (TBI) treatment. However, the underlying mechanisms are unclear. In this study, we aimed to explore the active ingredients and action targets of AR-RAS based on the combined methods of network pharmacology prediction and experimental verification. Furthermore, the corresponding potential mechanisms of "multicomponents, multitargets, and multipathways" were disclosed. Methods. A network pharmacology approach including ADME (absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion) filter analysis, target prediction, known therapeutic targets collection, Gene Ontology (GO), pathway enrichment analysis, and network construction was used in this study. Further verification experiments were performed to reveal the therapeutic effects of AR-RAS in a rat model of TBI. Results. The comprehensive systematic approach was to successfully identify 14 bioactive ingredients in AR-RAS, while 33 potential targets hit by these ingredients related to TBI. Based on GO annotation analysis, multiple biological processes were significantly regulated by AR-RAS. In addition, 89 novel signaling pathways (P<0.05) underlying the effects of AR-RAS for TBI treatment were identified by DAVID. The neurotrophin signaling pathway was suggested as the major related pathway targeted by AR-RAS to improve axonal growth. The animal experiment confirmed that AR-RAS significantly induced tissue recovery and improved neurological deficits on the 14th day (P<0.01). Treatment with AR-RAS markedly reduced the protein and mRNA expression level of NogoA in the hippocampus of TBI rats. Conclusion. Our work illuminates the "multicompounds, multitargets, and multipathways" curative action of AR-RAS in the treatment of TBI by network pharmacology. The animal experiment verifies the effects of AR-RAS on neurological function improvement and axonal outgrowth via downregulation of NogoA expression, providing a theoretical basis for further research on treatment of TBI.

Project description:BackgroundAstragali Radix-Curcumae Rhizoma (ARCR), a classic drug pair, has been widely used for the treatment of gastric intraepithelial neoplasia (GIN) in China. However, the underlying mechanisms of this drug pair are still unknown. Thus, elucidating the molecular mechanism of ARCR for treating GIN is imperative.MethodsThe active components and targets of ARCR were determined from the TCMSP database, and the differentially expressed genes related to GIN were identified from the GSE130823 dataset. The protein-protein interaction (PPI) network and ARCR-active component-target-pathway network were constructed by STRING 11.0 and Cytoscape 3.7.2, respectively. In addition, a receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) was conducted to verify the key targets, and enrichment analyses were performed using R software. Molecular docking was carried out to test the binding capacity between core active components and key targets.Results31 active components were obtained from ARCR, among which 22 were hit by the 51 targets associated with GIN. Gene Ontology (GO) functional enrichment analysis showed that biological process (BP), molecular function (MF), and cellular component (CC) were most significantly enriched in response to a drug, catecholamine binding, and apical part of the cell, respectively. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis indicated ARCR against GIN through regulation of neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction, nitrogen metabolism, calcium signaling pathway, chemical carcinogenesis-receptor activation, drug metabolism, gap junction, and cancers. In the PPI network, 15 potential targets were identified, of which nine key targets were proven to have higher diagnostic values in ROC. Molecular docking revealed a good binding affinity of active components (quercetin, bisdemethoxycurcumin, and kaempferol) with the corresponding targets (CYP3A4, CYP1A1, HMOX1, DRD2, DPP4, ADRA2A, ADRA2C, NR1I2, and LGALS4).ConclusionThis study revealed the active components and molecular mechanism by which ARCR treatment is effective against GIN through regulating multipathway, such as neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction, nitrogen metabolism, and calcium signaling pathway.

Project description:Astragali Radix (AR) has been widely used in traditional Chinese medicine prescriptions for acute and chronic liver injury. However, little is known about the effects of AR on acetaminophen (APAP)-induced liver injury (ALI). In the current study, a network pharmacology–based approach was applied to characterize the action mechanism of AR on ALI. All compounds of AR were obtained from the corresponding databases, and active compounds were selected according to its oral bioavailability and drug-likeness index. The potential genes of AR were obtained from the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform (TCMSP), and the Bioinformatics Analysis Tool for Molecular Mechanism of Traditional Chinese Medicine (BATMAN-TCM) and PubChem, whereas the potential genes related to ALI were obtained from Online databases (GeneCards and Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man) and Gene Expression Omnibus profiles. The enriched processes, pathways, and target genes of the diseases were analyzed by referring to the Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes/Proteins database. A network constructed through Cytoscape software was used to identify the target proteins that connected the compounds in AR with the differential genes of ALI. Subsequently, the potential underlying action mechanisms of AR on ALI predicted by the network pharmacology analyses were experimentally validated in APAP-induced liver injury in mice and HL7702 cells incubated with APAP. The compound-target network included 181 targets, whereas the potential genes related to ALI were 4,621. A total of 49 AR–ALI crossover proteins, corresponding to 49 genes, were filtered into a protein–protein interaction network complex and designated as the potential targets of AR on ALI. Among the genes, the three highest-scoring genes, MYC, MAPK8, and CXCL8 were highly associated with apoptosis in ALI. Then in vitro and in vivo experiments confirmed that AR exhibited its prominent therapeutic effects on ALI mainly via regulating hepatocyte apoptosis related to inhibiting the expressions of MYC (c-Myc), MAPK8 (JNK1), and CXCL8 (IL-8). In conclusion, our study suggested that the combination of network pharmacology prediction with experimental validation might offer a useful tool to characterize the molecular mechanism of AR on ALI.

Project description:BackgroundCholangiocarcinoma refers to an epithelial cell malignancy with poor prognosis. Yinchenhao decoction (YCHD) showed positive effects on cancers, and associations between YCHD and cholangiocarcinoma remain unclear. This study aimed to screen out the effective active components of Yinchenhao decoction (YCHD) using network pharmacology, estimate their potential targets, screen out the pathways, as well as delve into the potential mechanisms on treating cholangiocarcinoma.MethodsBy the traditional Chinese medicine system pharmacology database and analysis platform (TCMSP) as well as literature review, the major active components and their corresponding targets were estimated and screened out. Using the software Cytoscape 3.6.0, a visual network was established using the active components of YCHD and the targets of cholangiocarcinoma. Based on STRING online database, the protein interaction network of vital targets was built and analyzed. With the Database for Annotation, Visualization, and Integrated Discovery (DAVID) server, the gene ontology (GO) biological processes and the Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) signaling pathways of the targets enrichment were performed. The AutoDock Vina was used to perform molecular docking and calculate the binding affinity. The PyMOL software was utilized to visualize the docking results of active compounds and protein targets. In vivo experiment, the IC50 values and apoptosis rate in PI-A cells were detected using CCK-8 kit and Cell Cycle Detection Kit. The predicted targets were verified by the real-time PCR and western blot methods.Results32 effective active components with anti-tumor effects of YCHD were sifted in total, covering 209 targets, 96 of which were associated with cancer. Quercetin, kaempferol, beta-sitosterol, isorhamnetin, and stigmasterol were identified as the vital active compounds, and AKT1, IL6, MAPK1, TP53 as well as VEGFA were considered as the major targets. The molecular docking revealed that these active compounds and targets showed good binding interactions. These 96 putative targets exerted therapeutic effects on cancer by regulating signaling pathways (e.g., hepatitis B, the MAPK signaling pathway, the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, and MicroRNAs in cancer). Our in vivo experimental results confirmed that YCHD showed therapeutic effects on cholangiocarcinoma by decreasing IC50 values, down-regulating apoptosis rate of cholangiocarcinoma cells, and lowering protein expressions.ConclusionsAs predicted by network pharmacology strategy and validated by the experimental results, YCHD exerts anti-tumor effectsthrough multiple components, targets, and pathways, thereby providing novel ideas and clues for the development of preparations and the treatment of cholangiocarcinoma.

Project description:Background:Astragali Radix (AR) is widely-used for improving liver fibrosis, but, the mechanism of action has not been systematically explained. This study aims to investigate the mechanism of AR intervention in liver fibrosis based on comprehensive metabolomics combined with network pharmacology approach. Materials and methods:UPLC-Q-TOF/MS based metabolomics technique was used to explore the specific metabolites and possible pathways of AR affecting the pathological process of liver fibrosis. Network pharmacology analysis was introduced to explore the key targets of AR regarding the mechanisms on liver fibrosis. Results:AR significantly reduced the levels of ALT, AST and AKP in serum, and improved pathological characteristics. Metabolomics analysis showed that the therapeutic effect of AR was mainly related to the regulation of nine metabolites, including sphingosine, 6-keto-prostaglandin F1a, LysoPC (O-18:0), 3-dehydrosphinganine, 5,6-epoxy-8,11,14-eicosatrienoic acid, leukotriene C4, taurochenodesoxycholic acid, LysoPC (18:1 (9Z)) and 2-acetyl-1-alkyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine. Pathway analysis indicated that the treatment of AR on liver fibrosis was related to arachidonic acid metabolism, ether lipid metabolism, sphingolipid metabolism, glycerophospholipid metabolism and primary bile acid biosynthesis. Validation of the key targets by network pharmacology analysis of potential metabolic markers showed that AR significantly down-regulated the expression of CYP1B1 and up-regulated the expression of CYP1A2 and PCYT1A. Conclusion:Metabolomics combined with network pharmacology was used for the first time to clarify that the treatment of AR on liver fibrosis, which is related to the regulation of arachidonic acid metabolism and ether lipid metabolism by modulating the expression of CYP1A2, CYP1B1 and PCYT1A. And the integrated approach can provide new strategies and ideas for the study of molecular mechanisms of traditional Chinese medicines in the treatment of liver fibrosis.

Dataset Information

Anticancer Effect of Radix Astragali on Cholangiocarcinoma In Vitro and Its Mechanism via Network Pharmacology.

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Anticancer Effect of Radix Astragali on Cholangiocarcinoma In Vitro and Its Mechanism via Network Pharmacology.

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