Exploring Mechanism of Banxia Baizhu Tianma Decoction in the Treatment of Epilepsy Based on Network Pharmacology and Experimental Verification
10.11842/wst.20240228006
- VernacularTitle:基于网络药理学及实验验证研究半夏白术天麻汤治疗癫痫的机制
- Author:
Xin YANG
1
;
Jin FU
1
;
Cui JIANG
1
;
Yinhua KAI
1
;
Jiayi HE
1
;
Xiangxin GUO
1
;
Rong TIAN
1
Author Information
1. 成都中医药大学 成都 611137
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Banxia Baizhu Tianma Decoction;
Epilepsy;
Network pharmacology;
Molecular docking
- From:
World Science and Technology-Modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine
2025;27(3):776-791
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective To analyze the target,signal pathway and potential mechanism of Banxia Baizhu Tianma Decoction in the treatment of epilepsy based on network pharmacology,and to verify it by molecular docking technology and animal experiments.Methods The active ingredients and drug targets of Banxia Baizhu Tianma Decoction were screened by BATMAN and other databases.The targets of epilepsy-related diseases were obtained by GeneCards and other databases,and the intersection targets were taken.Constructing'drug-ingredient-target-disease'network and PPI network to screen the core targets.The core active ingredients were screened according to GO,KEGG functional enrichment analysis and'pathway-target-active ingredient'network.Molecular docking was used to verify the core targets and core active ingredients.In the animal experiment,the rat model of epilepsy was induced by lithium chloride-pilocarpine,and 40 Wistar rats were divided into normal control group,model control group,carbamazepine group and Banxia Baizhu Tianma Decoction group.The seizures were observed by behavior.Nissl staining was used to observe neuronal damage in hippocampus.Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of BAX,BCL-2 and Caspase-3 protein.Results A total of 1072 targets of Banxia Baizhu Tianma Decoction were screened,1046 disease targets of epilepsy were screened,and 220 intersection targets of Banxia Baizhu Tianma Decoction in the treatment of epilepsy were screened.The core targets AKT1,ALB,ACTB,INS and TNF of PPI network were obtained.KEGG pathway mainly involves TNF signaling pathway,IL-17 signaling pathway,cAMP signaling pathway,pathways of neurodegeneration-multiple diseases,serotonergic synapse and Dopaminergic synapse.The core active ingredients with the highest correlation in the'pathway-target-active component'network were Betulin,Ephedrine,Ergotamine and Thymol.Results of molecular docking indicated that the core target had satisfactory affinity with those active ingredients.Animal experiments showed that Banxia Baizhu Tianma Decoction could effectively reduce epileptic seizures in rats,improve hippocampal neuronal damage in rats,significantly reduce the percentage of neuronal apoptosis,significantly down-regulate the expression of pro-apoptotic proteins BAX and Caspase-3,and up-regulate the expression of anti-apoptotic protein BCL-2.Conclusion Banxia Baizhu Tianma Decoction has the characteristics of multi-component,multi-target and multi-pathway in the treatment of epilepsy.Inhibiting neuronal apoptosis and reducing hippocampal neuronal damage may be one of the important mechanisms for its treatment of epilepsy.