Wumei Wan attenuates angiogenesis and inflammation by modulating RAGE signaling pathway in IBD: Network pharmacology analysis and experimental evidence.

BACKGROUND: Wumei Wan (WMW) has been used to address digestive disorder for centuries in traditional Chinese medicine. Previous studies have demonstrated its anti-colitis efficacy, but the underlying mechanism of its action remains to be further clarified. PURPOSE: To investigate the underlying mechanisms of WMW in the treatment of chronic ulcerative colitis (UC) through network pharmacology and experimental validation. METHODS: Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology (TCMSP) platform were used to identify the ingredients and potential targets of WMW. The microarray gene data GSE75214 datasets from GEO database was used to define UC-associated targets. Cytoscape3.7.2 was employed to construct the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network and compounds-disease targets network. GO enrichment analysis and KEGG pathway analysis were performed by R software for functional annotation. UPLC-TOF-MS/MS method was used to quantitatively analyze the active ingredients of WMW. For experimental validation, three cycles of 2% dextran sulfate sodium salt (DSS) were used to construct chronic colitis model. The hub targets and signal pathway were detected by qPCR, ELISA, western blotting , immunohistochemical and immunofluorescence. RESULTS: Through network analysis, 104 active ingredients were obtained from WMW, and 47 of these ingredients had potential targets for UC. A total of 41 potential targets of WMW and 13 hub targets were identified. KEGG analysis showed that WMW involved in advanced glycation end products-receptor of advanced glycation end products (AGE-RAGE) signaling pathway. Taxifolin, rutaecarpine, kaempferol, quercetin, and luteolin of WMW were the more highly predictive components related to the AGE-RAGE signaling pathway. In vivo validation, WMW improved DSS-induced colitis, reduced the expression of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines. Notably, it significantly decreased the mRNA expression of Spp1, Serpine1, Mmp2, Mmp9, Ptgs2, Nos2, Kdr and Icam1, which were associated with angiogenesis. In addition, we confirmed WMW inhibited RAGE expression and diminished DSS-induced epithelial barrier alterations CONCLUSION: Our results initially demonstrated the effective components and the strong anti-angiogenic activity of WMW in experimental chronic colitis. Sufficient evidence of the satisfactory anti-colitis action of WMW was verified in this study, suggesting its potential as a quite prospective agent for the therapy of UC.

A critical review on the relationship of herbal medicine, Akkermansia muciniphila, and human health.

There are trillions and trillions of microorganisms in the human gut, and these microorganisms and their metabolites are closely related to human health. Recent studies have found that the abundance of Akkermansia muciniphila is decreased in many diseases. Supplementation of A. muciniphila is used to treat many diseases, suggesting it as a probiotic. Herbal medicines are considered as valuable asset of traditional Chinese medicine. Recent studies have revealed traditional Chinese medicine as a potential prebiotic agent for the treatment of many diseases. Hence, in this review, we aimed to provide a plausible mechanistic basis for the interactions between herbal medicines and A. muciniphila, and therapeutic benefits on this interaction in various illnesses.

The Treatment of Low Leg Nonischemic Ulcers With a Traditional Chinese-Pharmaceutical Medium: A Randomized Controlled Multicenter Clinical Study.

The aim of this study was to observe the curative effect and mechanism of Shengji Yuhong ointment in the healing of chronic ulcer of lower limbs. 400 patients were equally divided into treatment group and control group. The treatment group was covered with a piece of Shengji Yuhong ointment gauze, while the control group was covered with a piece of Vaseline gauze. Both groups changed dressings every other day for 4 weeks. On the 3rd, 7th, 14th, 21st, and 28th days of treatment, the reduction rate of wound area and the growth of wound granulation were observed and the levels of hydroxyproline and hemoglobin in wound granulation tissue were measured. The total effective rate was 99.00% in the treatment group and 71.00% in the control group. The treatment group was significantly better than the control group (P < .01). The ulcer area reduction rate of the treatment group was significantly higher than that of the control group (P < .01). The scores of ulcer depth, granulation color, and coverage area on the 7th, 14th, 21st, and 28th days after treatment in the treatment group were significantly lower than those before treatment (P < .05). After treatment, the levels of hydroxyproline and hemoglobin in granulation tissue of wounds in both groups were significantly higher than those before treatment (P < .01), and the levels in the treatment group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P < .01). Shengji Yuhong ointment can improve the healing rate of chronic ulcer of lower limbs.