Exploring the mechanism of cistanche in the treatment of Alzheimer′s disease based on network pharmacology and animal experiment
10.19405/j.cnki.issn1000-1492.2025.07.015
- Author:
Jie Zhao
1
;
Dongsheng Huo
2
;
Hongbo Zhu
1
;
Shibin Zhang
1
;
Jianxin Jia
2
Author Information
1. School of Basic Medicine and Forensic Science，Baotou Medical College of Inner Mongolia University，Baotou 014040
2. Dept of Human Anatomy，Baotou Medical College of Inner Mongolia University，Baotou 014040
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
cistanche;
Alzheimer′s disease;
network pharmacology;
molecular docking;
cAMP signaling pathway;
BDNF
- From:
Acta Universitatis Medicinalis Anhui
2025;60(7):1266-1274
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective:To explore the mechanism of cistanche deserticola(meat cistanche) in treating Alzheimer′s disease(AD) through network pharmacology, molecular docking, and animal experiments.
Methods : Effective components of meat cistanche were mined from the TCMSP database, and AD-related targets were filtered using the SwissTargetPrediction, DisGeNET, and GeneCards databases. The intersection of these targets was analyzed using protein-protein interaction(PPI) networks. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses were conducted via the Metascape database. Molecular docking of meat cistanche′s active components with core targets was performed using AutoDock Vina. Based on network pharmacology predictions, an AD model was established using 8-month-old SAMP8 mice, with Morris water maze tests assessing learning and cognitive functions, Nissl staining observing hippocampal neuron morphology, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and Western blotting detecting the expression levels of cAMP signaling pathway-related proteins in hippocampal tissues.
Results : Network pharmacology analysis predicted that meat cistanche might act on 74 AD targets through 8 active components. Molecular docking showed high affinity of active components like acteoside with core targets such as ESR1, BDNF, MAPK1, and APP. KEGG analysis indicated involvement in pathways related to cancer, cAMP signaling, and AD. Animal experiments demonstrated that meat cistanche effectively improved learning and cognitive impairments in AD mice and alleviated hippocampal neuron damage. ELISA and Western blotting results indicated that meat cistanche significantly increased the expression levels of cAMP, PKA, P-CREB in the cAMP pathway and promoted the expression of downstream neurotrophic factor BDNF.
Conclusion : Meat cistanche can improve learning and cognitive disorders in AD model mice and may exert therapeutic effects on AD by up-regulating the cAMP signaling pathway and the expression of downstream BDNF protein targets, thereby improving hippocampal neuron injury.
- Full text:2026030516060629681基于网络药理学和体内实验验证肉苁蓉抗阿尔茨海默病作用及机制_赵杰.pdf
