Exploring the antidepressant mechanisms of Ziziphi Spinosae Semen and Albiziae Flos based on network pharmacology and experimental validation
10.16557/j.cnki.1000-7547.2025.03.011
- VernacularTitle:基于网络药理学和实验验证探讨酸枣仁-合欢花抗抑郁的作用机制
- Author:
Chenjie HUANG
1
;
Mingli FAN
;
Xueli SHI
Author Information
1. 广西中医药大学研究生学院,南宁 530200
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Ziziphi Spinosae Semen and Albiziae Flos;
depression;
network pharmacology;
endoplasmic reticulum stress(ERS);
PI3K/AKT signaling pathway
- From:
Chinese Journal of Neuroanatomy
2025;41(3):342-350
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective:To investigate the antidepressant mechanism of Ziziphi Spinosae Semen and Albiziae Flos through network pharmacology,molecular docking,and cellular experiments.Methods:Active compounds and targets were identified using TCMSP,BATMAN-TCM,GeneCards,and OMIM databases,followed by standardization via the Uniprot database.A Venn diagram was created using venn2.1.0,and a protein-protein interaction(PPI)network was constructed with Cytoscape 3.8.2 and STRING to identify core targets.GO functional and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses were performed using R language.Molecular docking was validated using AutoDock Vina,and the key path-ways and targets were verified by constructing an in vitro model.Results:Twelve active components of Ziziphi Spinosae Semen and Albiziae Flos act on 109 potential depression targets.GO and KEGG analyses identified 2,439 and 163 en-tries,respectively.Based on degree value and enrichment level,core targets such as transcription factor JUN,AKT1,IL-6,and pathways including AGE-RAGE and PI3K/AKT were identified.Molecular docking demonstrated a favorable binding affinity between the active components and core targets.Cellular experiments revealed that serum containing Ziziphi Spinosae Semen and Albiziae Flos at low,medium,and high doses alleviated CORT-induced PC12 cell damage,increased Cell viability,and reduced apoptosis rates.It also upregulated PI3K/AKT pathway protein expression and downregulated endoplasmic reticulum stress related apoptotic protein expression,with more pronounced improvements observed in the medium and high-dose groups(all P＜0.01).Conclusion:The antidepressant effects of Ziziphi Spi-nosae Semen and Albiziae Flos are largely achieved by activating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway and inhibiting exces-sive ERS,which in turn reduces neuronal apoptosis.
