Analysis of Potential Mechanism of Herbal Formula Taohong Siwu Decoction against Vascular Dementia Based on Network Pharmacology and Molecular Docking.

Vascular dementia (VaD) is the second most prevalent dementia, which is attributable to neurovascular dysfunction. Currently, no approved pharmaceuticals are available. Taohong Siwu decoction (TSD) is a traditional Chinese medicine prescription with powerful antiapoptosis and anti-inflammatory properties. In this study, a network pharmacology approach together with molecular docking validation was used to explore the probable mechanism of action of TSD against VaD. A total of 44 active components, 202 potential targets of components, and 3,613 VaD-related targets including 161 intersecting were obtained. The potential chemical components including kaempferol, baicalein, beta-carotene, luteolin, quercetin, and beta-sitosterol involved in the inflammatory response, oxidative stress, and apoptosis might have potential therapeutic effects on the treatment of VaD. The potential core targets including AKT1, CASP3, IL1ß, JUN, and TP53 associated with cell apoptosis and inflammatory might account for the essential therapeutic effects of TSD in VaD. The results indicated that TSD protected against VaD through multicomponent and multitarget modes. Though the detailed mechanism of action of various active ingredients needs to be further illustrated, TSD still showed a promising therapeutic agent for VaD due to its biological activity.

Chaihu-Shugan-San Decoction Modulates Intestinal Microbe Dysbiosis and Alleviates Chronic Metabolic Inflammation in NAFLD Rats via the NLRP3 Inflammasome Pathway.

We evaluate the effects of the Chaihu-Shugan-San decoction on intestinal microbe dysbiosis and chronic metabolic inflammation via the NLRP3 pathway in NAFLD rats that were fed a high-fat diet. Twenty-four SD rats (male, six weeks old, 200 ± 20 g) were randomly divided into three groups: normal control group (NC group), high-fat diet-fed group (HFD group), and Chaihu-Shugan-San decoction intervention group (CH group). The NC group rats were given standard feed, the HFD group rats were all fed a high-fat diet (83% standard feed + 10% lard oil + 5% sucrose + 1.5% cholesterol + 0.5% cholate), and the CH group rats were given a HFD plus Chaihu-Shugan-San at 9.6 g•kg-1•d-1. Body composition, serum and liver lipids, inflammatory markers, intestinal microbial population, and the NLRP3 pathway-associated protein were assessed. The results showed that Chaihu-Shugan-San decoction significantly reduced body weight and total fat mass and the levels of serum LPS, TG, TNF-α, IL-1ß, and IL-18, as well as liver TC, TG, TNF-α, IL-1ß, and IL-18 (P < 0.05). The abundance of Enterobacteriaceae (0.375% versus 0.064%, P < 0.05), Staphylococcaceae families (0.049% versus 0.016%, P < 0.05) and Veillonella genus (0.096% versus 0.009%, P < 0.01) significantly decreased, whereas the abundance of Anaeroplasma genus (0.0005% versus 0.0178%, P < 0.01) significantly increased. The expression levels of NLRP3, ASC, and Caspase-1 were changed significantly (P < 0.05). In summary, the Chaihu-Shugan-San decoction modulated intestinal microbe dysbiosis, reduced fat accumulation, and alleviated inflammatory factor expression, which are all processes related to the NLRP3 inflammasome pathway in NAFLD rats.

Effects of shenling baizhu powder herbal formula on intestinal microbiota in high-fat diet-induced NAFLD rats.

BACKGROUND: Worldwide, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a common chronic liver disease closely associated with obesity, diabetes and other metabolic diseases. Shenling Baizhu powder (SLBZP), a formulation of a variety of natural medicinal plants, has hepatoprotective properties and clinical efficacy in treating non-infectious intestinal disease. SLBZP has improved NAFLD symptoms; however, its mechanism of action is unknown. METHODS: We established an NAFLD model in rats given a high-fat diet (HFD), administered different interventions and measured serum biochemical indices and inflammatory factors. Liver tissues were stained with hematoxylin and eosin (HE) and oil red O, and colon tissues were analyzed by immunohistochemistry. The expression profiles of liver TLR4 pathway related protein was confirmed by western blotting. Changes in intestinal microbiota composition were analyzed using a 16S rDNA sequencing technique. RESULTS: Of note, SLBZP effectively reduced body weight in HFD-fed rats (p < 0.05). Serum biochemical analysis indicated that SLBZP decreased the serum level of total cholesterol (TC) and improved liver function. Additionally, SLBZP decreased the serum level of endotoxin, tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), interleukin-1ß (IL-ß) (p < 0.05), and decreased the expression of TLR4 pathway related protein. Pathological examination showed that SLBZP alleviates hepatic steatosis and repairs colon mucosa. Microbiome analysis revealed that SLBZP improved the abundance of intestinal microbiota. In taxonomy-based analysis, compared with control rats, SLBZP-treated rats showed obvious changes in intestinal microbiota composition. Moreover, SLBZP increased the relative abundance of short-chain fatty acid (SCFA)-producing bacteria, including Bifidobacterium and Anaerostipes. CONCLUSION: Taken together, these results suggest that the effects of SLBZP against NAFLD may be related to the increased abundance of beneficial gut microbiota and decreased levels of LPS in the portal vein.

The Potential Effect of Chinese Herbal Formula Hongqijiangzhi Fang in Improving NAFLD: Focusing on NLRP3 Inflammasome and Gut Microbiota.

The present study investigates the potential therapeutic mechanism underlying the effects of the Chinese herbal formula Hongqijiangzhi Fang (HJF) on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in rats. Male Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into 4 groups (n = 8): control group was fed a normal diet, three other groups were fed high-fat diets (HFD), and the two treatment groups were intragastrically given a compound probiotic or HJF during the molding time. After 16 w, related indices were detected. The results showed that HJF significantly reduced abdominal aorta serum cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), IL-1ß, and IL-18, portal venous serum lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and liver TC and TG levels in HFD-fed rats. HJF ameliorated hepatic steatosis in the liver and improved the intestinal barrier in HFD-fed rats. Activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome was reduced by HJF in HFD-fed rats. Additionally, the abundances of A. muciniphila (Verrucomicrobiaceae), F. rappini (Helicobacteraceae), and Enterobacteriaceae bacteria significantly decreased in HJF-treated HFD-fed rats. In conclusion, these result suggested that the Chinese herbal formula HJF reduced hepatic steatosis maybe through decreasing certain gut bacteria (such as Enterobacteriaceae bacteria and F. rappini), alleviating intestinal endotoxemia and reducing NLRP3 inflammasome activation.