Component-target network and mechanism of Qufeng Zhitong capsule in the treatment of neuropathic pain.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Qufeng Zhitong capsule (QFZTC) is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) clinically used for treating pain. However, the active ingredients of QFZTC and its pharmacological mechanism in the treatment of neuropathic pain (NP) remain unclear. AIM OF THE STUDY: We aimed to identify the active ingredients of QFZTC and reveal its target genes and underlying mechanism of action in NP. MATERIALS AND METHODS: High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to identify the active ingredients of QFZTC. Network pharmacology analysis was conducted to determine the core targets and pathway enrichment of QFZTC. An NP mice model was established through chronic compression injury (CCI) surgery of the sciatic nerve, while von Frey instrumentation and a thermal stimulator were employed to measure the sensitivity of mice to mechanical and thermal stimuli. Immunofluorescence was used to observe the expression of TLR4 and p-P65 in microglia. Western blotting was used to detect the levels of protein expression of Iba-1, TLR4, MyD88, P65, p-P65, and c-Fos, while ELISA kits were used to detect the release of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1ß. RESULTS: Seven active ingredients were identified in QFZTC: gallic acid, loganylic acid, syringin, corilagin, loganin, ellagic acid, and osthole. Network analysis identified TLR4, TNF, IL6, IL1ß, and c-Fos as core targets, and Toll-like receptors and NF-κB as core signaling pathways. Treatment with QFZTC significantly relieved mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia in CCI mice models. CCI induced an increase in the expression of TLR4 and p-P65 in microglia, whereas QFZTC dose-dependently reduced the expression of Iba-1, TLR4, MyD88, and p-P65 in the spinal cord. QFZTC inhibited the expression of the c-Fos pain marker and reduced the expression of the TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1ß inflammatory factors. CONCLUSION: We combined the active ingredients of QFZTC with network pharmacology research to clarify its biological mechanism in the treatment of NP. We demonstrated that QFZTC reduced NP in mice probably through regulating the spinal microglia via the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway. Hence, QFZTC could be regarded as a potential drug for relieving NP.

[Research on suitable distribution of Paris yunnanensis based on remote sensing and GIS].

Paris yunnanensis is a kind of rare medicinal herb, having a very high medicinal value. Studying its suitable ecological condition can provide a basis for its rational exploitation, artificial cultivation, and sustainable utilization. A practicable method in this paper has been proposed to research the suitable regional distribution of P. yunnanensis in Sichuan province. By the case study of P. yunnanensis in Sichuan province, and according to related literatures, the suitable ecological condition of P. yunnanensis such as altitude, mean annual temperature (MAT), annual precipitation, regional slope, slope ranges, vegetative cover, and soil types was analyzed following remote sensing (RS) and GIS.The appropriate distribution regionof P. yunnanensis and its area were extracted based on RS and GIS technology,combing with the information of the field validation data. The results showed that the concentrated distribution regions in counties of Sichuan province were, Liangshan prefecture, Aba prefecture, Sertar county of Ganzi prefecture, Panzhihua city, Ya'an city, Chengdu city, Meishan city, Leshan city, Yibin city, Neijiang city, Luzhou city, Bazhong city, Nanchong city, Guangyuan city and other cities and counties area.The suitable distribution area in Sichuan is about 7 338 km², accounting for 3.02% of the total study regional area. The analysis result has high consistency with the filed validation data, and the research method for P. yunnanensis distribution region based onspatial overlay analysis and the extracted the information of land usage and ecological factors following the RS and GIS is reliable.

[Application of remote sensing and GIS in study of suitability distribution of Swertia mussotii, a Tibetan medicine in Sichuan province].

Swertia mussotii is a kind of rare medicinal materials, the relevant researches are mainly concentrated on its medicinal efficacy and medicinal value till now, researches of adaptive distribution by applying remote sensing and GIS are relatively less. This study is to analyze the adaptive distribution of S.mussotii in Sichuan province by applying remote sensing and GIS technology, and provide scientific basis for the protection and development of wild resources, artificial cultivation and adjustment of Chinese medicine industrial distribution in Sichuan province. Based on literature review and ecological factors such as altitude, annual precipitation and annual average temperature, this study extracted ecological factors, overlay analysis in GIS, as well as combining GPS field validation data by means of remote sensing and GIS, discusses the adaptive distribution of SMF sin Sichuan province. ①The area of adaptive distribution of S. mussotii in Sichuan province is 1 543.749 km², mainly in Dege county, Ganzi county, Daofu county, Kangding county, Barkam, Jinchuan county, Xiaojin county, Danba county, Daocheng county, Xiangcheng county, Xinlong county, Aba county, Muli county and other counties and cities, accounts for about 7.25% in total area. ② Combining statistical information and field validation, this study found that S. mussotii adaptive distribution gained by remote sensing and GIS is in conformity with its actual distribution. The study shows that remote sensing and GIS technology are feasible to obtain the S. mussotii adaptive distribution, they can further be applied to studies on adaptive distributions of other rare Chinese medicinal herb.

Differential gene expression profiles between two subtypes of ischemic stroke with blood stasis syndromes.

Ischemic stroke is a cerebrovascular thrombotic disease with high morbidity and mortality. Qi deficiency blood stasis (QDBS) and Yin deficiency blood stasis (YDBS) are the two major subtypes of ischemic stroke according to the theories of traditional Chinese medicine. This study was conducted to distinguish these two syndromes at transcriptomics level and explore the underlying mechanisms. Male rats were randomly divided into three groups: sham group, QDBS/MCAO group and YDBS/MCAO group. Morphological changes were assessed after 24 h of reperfusion. Microarray analysis with circulating mRNA was then performed to identify differential gene expression profile, gene ontology and pathway enrichment analyses were carried out to predict the gene function, gene co-expression and pathway networks were constructed to identify the hub biomarkers, which were further validated by western blotting and Tunel staining analysis. Three subsets of dysregulated genes were acquired, including 445 QDBS-specific genes, 490 YDBS-specific genes and 1676 blood stasis common genes. Our work reveals for the first time that T cell receptor, MAPK and apoptosis pathway were identified as the hub pathways based on the pathway networks, while Nfκb1, Egfr and Casp3 were recognized as the hub genes by co-expression networks. This research helps contribute to a clearer understanding of the pathological characteristics of ischemic stroke with QDBS and YDBS syndrome, the proposed biomarkers might provide insight into the accurate diagnose and proper treatment for ischemic stroke with blood stasis syndrome.

[Study on suitable distribution areas of Grifola umbellate in Sichuan province based on remote sensing and GIS].

Grifola umbellate is the important medicinal materials in China which has a very high medicinal value. This study analyzedthe suitable distribution areasof G. umbellate and provided scientific basis for determining G. umbellate planting regions and planning production distribution reasonably. The suitable distribution areas of G. umbellate in Sichuan province was researched based on TM, ETM+, and DEM data,the key ecological factors that affect the growth of G. umbellate were extracted, including elevation, slope, aspect, average annual temperature,average annual precipitation,forest information,soil information, following remote sensing and GIS techniques, combining field researchdata. The results showed that the G. umbellate resources in Sichuan province were mainly distributed in Pingwu, Beichuan, Licountry, Yanyuan, Xichang, Dechang, Yanbian, Miyi, Huidong, Panzhihua and so on, the suitability distribution areas is 276.214 4 km² approximately and accounting for more than 0.143 3% of the total area.According to the related document information and the field investigation, showed that the suitability distribution based on RS and GIS were corresponded with the actual distribution areas of G. umbellate.

Study on suitable distribution areas of Notopterygium incisum in Sichuan province based on remote sensing and GIS.

Notopterygium incisum is the important medicinal materials of the Tibetan-Qiang medical system in China, also one of the rare and endangered medicinal materials in the Plateau areas in the meantime. Taking the planting of in Sichuan province as an example, research on the N. incisum in Sichuan utilize remote sensing and GIS techniques, bind growth environment factor, including height factor, average annual precipitation, average annual temperature, forest information, were chosen according to habitat conditions. And combine field measurement to verify. The results indicate that N. incisum resources in Sichuan province were mainly distributed in the alpine valley and the northwest of the plateau, which suitability distribution areas of 4145 km2 approximately and accounting for 2% of the total area. Suitability areas accounting for more than 2% of the respective total area in Heishui county, Lixian county, Xiaojin county, Kangding county, ect. According to the field investigation and the related document information record, drawn that the suitability distribution based on RS and GIS were corresponded with the actual distribution areas of N. incisum resources. It's feasible to divide the suitability distribution area of N. incisum using RS and GIS, which will provide a scientific basis for a comprehensive investigation of the distribution as well as its rational exploitation and protection.