1.Exploring Multi-target Synergistic Mechanisms of Compound Yiqi Weixue Prescription with Medicinal and Edible Value in Alleviating Premenstrual Syndrome Based on Transcriptomics
Yue XU ; Kedian CHEN ; Yi ZHANG ; Xiaojie LI ; Na LIN ; Yanqiong ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(23):116-126
ObjectivePremenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a cyclical psychosomatic disorder associated with neuroendocrine dysfunction and dysregulation of monoamine neurotransmitters. Yiqi Weixue prescription (YQWX), with both medicinal and edible value, shows the potential in alleviating PMS, yet its multi-target synergistic mechanism remains unclear. This study aims to explore the multi-target synergistic mechanism of YQWX in alleviating premenstrual syndrome through transcriptomics. MethodsThe rat model of PMS was established by progesterone injection combined with restraint stress. A total of 49 female Wistar rats were randomized into a normal group, a solvent group, a model group, low-, medium-, and high-dose (359, 718, 1 436 mg·kg-1, respectively) YQWX groups, and a positive control (Kuntai capsules, 540 mg·kg-1) group. After two weeks of intervention, behavioral changes were assessed by open field, forced swimming, and sucrose preference tests. Serum levels of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), norepinephrine (NE), and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), as well as serum levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β), were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Hippocampal RNA was extracted for transcriptomic sequencing, followed by screening of differentially expressed genes (DEGs), and then Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses were performed. The expression of key genes was validated by quantitative Real‑time polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR), ELISA, and immunohistochemical (IHC) staining. ResultsCompared with the solvent group, the model group showed decreases in total movement distance, active time, rearing frequency, central zone duration, and grid line crossings in the open field test (P<0.01), increases in peripheral zone duration and immobility time in the forced swimming test (P<0.01), a reduced sucrose preference rate (P<0.01), declined serum levels of 5-HT, NE, and BDNF (P<0.01), and elevated serum levels of IL-6 and IL-1β (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the medium and high-dose YQWX groups exhibited significant improvements in the above behavioral parameters (P<0.05, P<0.01). The medium-dose YQWX group showed restoration of 5-HT and BDNF levels (P<0.05), and the high-dose YQWX group showed restoration of NE levels (P<0.01). All YQWX groups reduced serum IL-6 and IL-1β levels (P<0.01). Transcriptome sequencing identified 513 DEGs in the model group compared with the solvent group and 512 DEGs in the YQWX group compared with the model group. Enrichment analyses pointed out key pathways related to platelet activation, complement, coagulation cascade, inflammation, and neuroendocrine regulation. Experimental validation demonstrated that YQWX upregulated the mRNA and protein levels of F9 in the liver tissue (P<0.01). Medium- and high-dose YQWX upregulated the mRNA level of PLCD3 in the hippocampus and uterus (P<0.05, P<0.01), as well as protein levels of CAMK2G and SNCAIP in the hippocampus (P<0.01). ConclusionYQWX synergistically alleviates behavioral and neurobiochemical abnormalities in PMS rats by regulating key genes, providing a molecular basis for its traditional effects of replenishing Qi, nourishing blood, and harmonizing the liver and spleen.
2.Identification of Pharmacodynamic Material Basis of Ruyi Zhenbaowan by Multidimensional Correlation Model of "Pharmacodynamic-target-component-pharmacokinetic"
Mingzhu XU ; Huaiping LI ; Zhaochen MA ; Tao LI ; Yudong LIU ; Ziqing XIAO ; Chu ZHANG ; Kedian CHEN ; Weihua MA ; Feng HUANG ; Na LIN ; Yanqiong ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(24):68-77
ObjectiveTo identify the pharmacodynamic material basis of Ruyi Zhenbaowan in relieving neuropathic pain by integrating the calculation of biological network proximity and pharmacokinetic characterization. MethodThe interaction network of "drug candidate target-related gene of disease" was constructed by Cytoscape 3.8.2, and the average shortest path value of each drug putative target acting on neuropathic pain-related genes in this network was calculated by Pesca 3.8.0 tool so as to evaluate the network proximity between them, and screen prescription candidate targets with strong intervention efficiency and their corresponding potential effect components. After that, plasma and cerebrospinal fluid samples were collected from rats after administration of Ruyi Zhenbaowan at set time points, and the contents of potential effect components in samples was quantified by ultra performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-ion trap mass spectrometry(UPLC-Q-TRAP/MS), and drug concentration-time curves were plotted, then the pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated by DAS 2.1.1. ResultBy evaluating the network proximity between candidate targets and neuropathic pain-related genes in the interaction network, a total of 40 putative targets of Ruyi Zhenbaowan with strong intervention effects on neuropathic pain-related genes, such as estrogen receptor 1(ESR1), cyclic adenosine monophosphate(cAMP)-dependent protein kinase catalytic subunit alpha(PRKACA) and protein kinase B1 (Akt1), and 10 corresponding potential effect components, such as glycyrrhizic acid and betulinic acid, were obtained. Pharmacokinetic characterization showed that among the 10 potential effect components, gallic acid, apigenin-7-O-glucuronide, glycyrrhizic acid and apigenin were well absorbed and metabolized in plasma and cerebrospinal fluid, with long onset time and good bioavailability. ConclusionFrom the perspective of efficacy-target-constituent-pharmacokinetic, this study analyzes the main effective materials of Ruyi Zhenbaowan, such as glycyrrhizic acid, gallic acid, apigenin-7-O-glucuronide and apigenin, which have a high exposure in plasma or cerebrospinal fluid and have a strong intervention effect on neuropathic pain. The related results provide reliable experimental evidences for clarifying the material basis and developing quality standards of Ruyi Zhenbaowan.
3.Identification of in Vitro and in vivo Chemical Constituents of Ruyi Zhenbaowan Based on UHPLC-Q Exactive Orbitrap HRMS
Kedian CHEN ; Zhaochen MA ; Bingbing CAI ; Ying LIU ; Yudong LIU ; Tao LI ; Mingzhu XU ; Haiping WANG ; Na LIN ; Yanqiong ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(24):78-84
ObjectiveTo identify the chemical constituents of Ruyi Zhenbaowan in vitro and in vivo. MethodThe chemical constituents of Ruyi Zhenbaowan were identified based on UHPLC-Q Exactive Orbitrap HRMS. A total of 12 male SD rats were randomized into two groups: control (pure water) and Ruyi Zhenbaowan (1.8 g·kg-1). The rats were administrated with the suspension of Ruyi Zhenbaowan or pure water by gavage. After 1.5 h, the plasma and cerebrospinal fluid were collected. Chromatographic separation was performed on a Waters ACQUITY UPLC BEH C18 column (2.1 mm × 150 mm, 1.7 μm) with a mixture of 0.1% formic acid aqueous solution (A) and acetonitrile (B) as the mobile phase. Gradient elution was carried out according to the procedure of 0~15 min,97%~80%A;15~30 min ,80%~60%A;30~40 min,60%~30%A;40~45 min,30%~5%A. The ion source was electrospray ionization, and scan range was m/z 100-1 500. The prototype components and the components in the plasma and cerebrospinal fluid were analyzed qualitatively by scanning in positive and negative ion modes and identified by comparison with the data in published literature and the information of standard substances. ResultA total of 126 chemical constituents were identified from the 80% methanol solution of Ruyi Zhenbaowan, and 14 and 7 prototype constituents were detected in the plasma and the cerebrospinal fluid, respectively. In addition, the fragmentation rules of apigenin, apigenin-7-O-glucuronide, galangin, liquiritin, piperine, glycyrrhizic acid, eugenol, gallic acid, and cholic acid were deduced. ConclusionThis study achieved rapid multicomponent characterization and identification of Ruyi Zhenbaowan in vitro and in vivo, providing theoretical support for exploring active substances and performing quality control.l.

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