College of Pharmaceutical and Biological Engineering, Shenyang University of Chemical Technology, Shenyang, P.R. China.
Institute of Functional Molecules, Shenyang University of Chemical Technology, Shenyang, P.R. China.
J Food Biochem. 2019 Aug;43(8):e12955. doi: 10.1111/jfbc.12955. Epub 2019 Jun 19.
Neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs) are characterized by progressive and irreversible, is a kind of complex illnesses, and the long-term therapy which is frequently associated with adverse side effects. Medicago sativa L., widely consumed as a vegetable, has the effects of improving memory and relieving central nervous system diseases. However, there are less studies on its specific mechanism for NDDs. In this investigation, we applied a method of network pharmacology, which combined molecular docking and network analysis to decipher the mechanisms of M. sativa in NDDs. The pharmacological system generated 55 triterpene saponins from M. sativa, and predicted 27 potential targets with 100 pathways in the treatment of NDDs. As a result, 13 compounds, 10 target proteins, and 6 signaling pathways were found to play important roles in the treatment of NDDs. In addition, in vitro experiments of isolates confirmed activities for NDDs, which were consistent with the results of network pharmacology prediction. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Medicago sativa L. has been widely consumed as a vegetable, which possesses many nutritional components. As a functional food stuff, M. sativa can improve human health, such as memory improving activities, relieving central nervous system diseases, immunomodulatory, antioxidant, anticancer, and anti-inflammatory. In this article, the mechanism of triterpene saponins from M. sativa against NDDs was successfully predicted by network pharmacology method. The results will serve as a reference of M. sativa against NDDs.
神经退行性疾病（NDDs）的特征是进行性和不可逆转的，是一种复杂的疾病，长期治疗常伴有不良反应。紫花苜蓿广泛作为蔬菜食用，具有改善记忆和缓解中枢神经系统疾病的作用。然而，对于其治疗 NDDs 的具体机制的研究较少。在这项研究中，我们应用了一种网络药理学方法，将分子对接和网络分析相结合，以破译紫花苜蓿治疗 NDDs 的机制。药理学系统从紫花苜蓿中生成了 55 种三萜皂苷，并预测了 100 种治疗 NDDs 的途径中的 27 个潜在靶点。结果，发现 13 种化合物、10 种靶蛋白和 6 种信号通路在治疗 NDDs 中发挥重要作用。此外，分离物的体外实验证实了对 NDDs 的活性，这与网络药理学预测的结果一致。实际应用：紫花苜蓿作为蔬菜被广泛食用，具有许多营养成分。作为一种功能性食品，紫花苜蓿可以改善人类健康，如改善记忆、缓解中枢神经系统疾病、免疫调节、抗氧化、抗癌和抗炎作用。在本文中，成功地通过网络药理学方法预测了紫花苜蓿三萜皂苷对 NDDs 的作用机制。结果将为紫花苜蓿治疗 NDDs 提供参考。
