Network pharmacology-based analysis of Jin-Si-Wei on the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Jin-Si-Wei (JSW), a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula, have cognitive enhancing effect and delay the memory decline in an animal model of AD， which has been reported. However, the therapeutic mechanism of JSW in the treatment of AD remains unclear. AIM OF THE STUDY: This study aimed to verify the pharmacodynamics of JSW in the treatment of AD, and to explore its potential mechanism based on network pharmacology, molecular docking and experimental validation both in vitro and in vivo. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, the underlying mechanism of JSW against AD was investigated by the integration of network pharmacology. Then, the core pathways and biological process of JSW were verified by experiment, including behavioral test and pathological and biochemical assays with 6-month-old APPswe/PS1ΔE9 transgenic (APP/PS1) mice in vivo and verified with Aß1-42-stimulated SH-SY5Y cells in vitro. At last, molecular docking was used to show the binding activity of each active ingredient to the core genes of JSW treatment in AD. RESULTS: A Drug-Ingredient-Target network was established, which included 363 ingredients and 116 targets related to the JSW treatment of AD. The main metabolic pathway of JSW treatment for AD is neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction pathway, and biological processes are mainly involved in Aß metabolic process. In vivo experiments, compared with APP/PS1 mice, the cognitive and memory ability of mice was significantly improved after JSW administration. In brain tissue of APP/PS1 mice, JSW could increase the contents of low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 1 (LRP-1), enkephalinase (NEP) and Acetyl choline (ACh), and decrease the contents of Aß1-42, amyloid precursor protein (APP) and receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE), decrease the vitality of cholinesterase (AChE) and choline acetyltransferase (ChAT). Besides, JSW could increase α-secretase expression and decrease ß/γ-secretase expression, and improve the number and morphology of synapses in CA1 region of the hippocampus of APP/PS1 mice. In vitro experiments, Drug-Containing Serum (JSW-serum) has a neuroprotective effect by reducing the apoptosis on Aß1-42-stimulated SH-SY5Y cells. Molecular docking results showed that 2-Isopropyl-8-methylphenanthrene-3,4-dione had strong binding activity with PTGS2, which maybe a potential ingredient for the treatment of AD. CONCLUSIONS: JSW improves AD in APP/PS1 mice, and this therapeutic effect may be achieved in part by altering the neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction pathway.

A minireview of the medicinal and edible insects from the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM).

Entomoceuticals define a subset of pharmaceuticals derived from insects. The therapeutic effect of insect-derived drugs has been empirically validated by the direct use of various folk medicines originating from three sources in particular: the glandular secretions of insects (e.g., silk, honey, venom), the body parts of the insect or the whole used live or by various processing (e.g., cooked, toasted, ground), and active ingredients extracted from insects or insect-microbe symbiosis. Insects have been widely exploited in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) relative to other ethnomedicines, especially in the prospect of insect species for medicinal uses. It is noticeable that most of these entomoceuticals are also exploited as health food for improving immune function. In addition, some edible insects are rich in animal protein and have high nutritional value, which are used in the food field, such as insect wine, health supplements and so on. In this review, we focused on 12 insect species that have been widely used in traditional Chinese herbal formulae but have remained less investigated for their biological properties in previous studies. We also combined the entomoceutical knowledge with recent advances in insect omics. This review specifies the underexplored medicinal insects from ethnomedicine and shows their specific medicinal and nutritional roles in traditional medicine.

Molecular basis of neurophysiological and antioxidant roles of Szechuan pepper.

The balance between anti- and pro-oxidant activities is of great important to maintain the biochemical and physiological homeostasis in the human body. Developing new therapeutic strategies to reduce health risks caused by free radicals has always been research focus over the past decades. Szechuan pepper, a characteristic pungent-flavored spice in Sichuanese cuisine, recently attracts the attention of researchers for its widespread therapeutic effects on acute and chronic diseases. The plant produces the innocuous 'tingling and numbing' sensations across the oral cavity by stirring specific neuron types, which are mechanically distinct from those excited by capsaicin. Furthermore, the extracts or the compounds of Szechuan pepper are biochemically proven to possess strong antioxidant activities that could scavenge free radicals and inhibit overactive peroxidase system in pathological models. Herein, the review emphasizes the molecular basis underlying the neurophysiological and antioxidant activities of the plant by a comprehensive analysis of various signaling pathways in disease models treated by Szechuan pepper. Further, we performed a broadening analysis to unearth potential signaling pathways associated with the antioxidant roles of the plant.

Therapeutic effect of electroacupuncture, massage, and blocking therapy on external humeral epicondylitis.

OBJECTIVE: To compare two therapeutic methods: electroacupuncture + massage + blocking therapy, and blocking therapy alone in the treatment of external humeral epicondylitis. METHODS: Eighty-six patients were randomized into two groups with 43 in each. The treatment group received electroacupuncture + massage + blocking therapy, while the control group received blocking therapy only. A course of electroacupuncture treatment included therapy once a day for 10 days. There were 10 treatments in a massage course and massage was given once a day, with a 1-week interval given before the next course. A course of blocking treatment included therapy once a week, for two total treatments, and generally no more than three times. The therapeutic effects were evaluated with the visual analog scale (VAS), grip strength index (GSI) score, and Mayo elbow performance score (MEPS) before treatment and at 0, 6, 12, and 24 months after treatment to observe the total effective rate. RESULTS: In the treatment and control groups before treatment and at 0, 6, 12, and 24 months after treatment, the VAS scores were: 6.5 +/- 1.9 and 6.4 +/- 1.6; 4.6 +/- 1.3 and 4.6 +/- 1.7; 4.8 +/- 1.3 and 4.8 +/- 1.2; 4.6 +/- 1.2 and 6.6 +/- 1.6; and 6.5 +/- 1.6 and 6.5 +/- 1.3, respectively. The GSI scores were 63 +/- 8 and 63 +/- 8; 84 +/- 6 and 82 +/- 7; 82 +/- 7 and 82 +/- 6; 84 +/- 6 and 62 +/- 8; and 64 +/- 6 and 64 +/- 7, respectively. The MEPS of both groups were 65 +/- 7 and 66 +/- 8; 85 +/- 6 and 84 +/- 7; 84 +/- 5 and 84 +/- 7; 80 +/- 7 and 66 +/- 6; and 65 +/- 6 and 65 +/-7, respectively. The total effective rates of the treatment and control groups at 0, 6, 12, and 24 months after treatment were 87.5% and 85.0%; 85.0% and 82.5%; 80.0% and 12.5%; and 2.5% and 5.0%, respectively. Compared with the treatment group, the control group had greater joint function, better therapeutic effect, and lower pain intensity (P<0.01), indicating a high recurrence rate in the 12th month after treatment. There were no differences in VAS, GSI, or MEPS at 0, 6, and 24 months after treatment (P> 0.05) between the two groups. CONCLUSION: We found that both methods were effective for external humeral epicondylitis. After 6 months of treatment, the effects were good in both groups. However, in the 12th month, the control group had a relatively severe relapse. After 24 months, both groups relapsed. The effect of electroacupuncture, massage, and blocking therapy used in combination lasted longer, delaying the recurrence of the disease.