Effect of Baixiangdan capsule on anxiety-like behavior in rats and its mechanism explored via network pharmacology and animal experiments
10.3969/j.issn.1000-4718.2025.03.009
- VernacularTitle:基于网络药理学及动物实验探究白香丹胶囊对大鼠焦虑样行为的作用及其机制
- Author:
Songlin QU
1
;
Xiaofei MU
;
Yanfen LIU
;
Mengxia LI
;
Yinghui GUO
Author Information
1. 山东中医药大学中医学院,山东 济南 250355;中国中医科学院中医基础理论研究所,北京 100700
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Baixiangdan capsule;
anxiety;
c-Jun N-terminal kinase;
c-Jun N-terminal kinase inhibitor;
net-work pharmacology
- From:
Chinese Journal of Pathophysiology
2025;41(3):492-500
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
AIM:This study aimed to utilize network pharmacology and an anxiety rat model to investigate the intervention targets and underlying mechanisms of Baixiangdan capsule(BXD)in the treatment of anxiety-like behavior.METHODS:We screened the action targets of BXD on the anxiety model using network pharmacology,followed by Gene Ontology(GO)enrichment and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)pathway analysis of the identified targets.Additionally,we evaluated the effects of BXD on rat anxiety behaviors induced by foot shock,with measurement of serum level of c-Jun N-terminal kinase inhibitor(JIK),and the protein levels of c-Jun N-terminal kinase(JNK),phos-phorylated JNK(p-JNK)and JIK in the left hippocampus and hypothalamus.RESULTS:A total of 97 targets,including the dopamine D1/D3 receptors,were identified as intersection targets.GO enrichment analysis indicated that target pro-teins were significantly involved in molecular functions such as catecholamine binding,receptor activation,and signal transduction.KEGG pathway analysis revealed that neural receptor-ligand pathways,including dopaminergic synapses(15%)and neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction(18%),were notably represented.In behavioral experiments,BXD and diazepam treatments significantly reduced total path in the open-field test(P＜0.01),while the number of entries into the central region increased(P＜0.05).Additionally,the percentage of entry times of the open arm and the percentage of time spent in the open arm were also increased(P＜0.01).Furthermore,BXD treatment led to decreased ratio of p-JNK/JNK and increased level of JIK(P＜0.05).CONCLUSION:The traditional Chinese medicine BXD demonstrates a promising efficacy in alleviating anxiety-like behaviors in model rats.It operates through a multi-component,multi-target,and multi-pathway approach,primarily by modulating the JIK/JNK signaling pathway.
