Wen Tingyu, Xin Guang, Zhou Qilong, Wang Tao, Yu Xiuxian, Li Yanceng, Li Shiyi, Zhang Ying, Zhang Kun, Liu Ting, Zhu Beiwei, Huang Wen
Department of Emergency Medicine, Natural and Biomimetic Medicine Research Center, Tissue-Orientated Property of Chinese Medicine Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, West China School of Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610000, China.
State Key Laboratory of Marine Food Processing and Safety Control, National Engineering Research Center of Seafood, Dalian Polytechnic University, Dalian 116034, China.
Nutrients. 2024 Dec 23;16(24):4409. doi: 10.3390/nu16244409.
Radix Paeoniae Rubra (RPR), an edible and medicinal Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), is extensively employed in therapeutic interventions of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. However, the curative effect of RPR on ischemic stroke remains ambiguous. This work integrated network pharmacology, molecular docking, and experimental validation to explore the mechanisms of RPR in treating ischemic stroke.
In this study, we preliminarily elucidated the therapeutic effect and mechanism of RPR on ischemic stroke through network pharmacology, molecular docking analysis, and experimental verification.
The results indicated that RPR improved the neurological deficit scores, decreased the size of infarcts, and reduced brain edema symptoms in the tMCAO mice model. Furthermore, through network pharmacology and molecular docking, four core targets (MAPK3, TNF-α, MAPK14, and JNK) closely related to RPR's treatment of ischemic stroke were identified, exhibiting strong affinity with two key active components of RPR: albiflorin (AF) and β-sitosterol (BSS). The Western blot showed the potential mechanism of RPR treatment for ischemic stroke by regulating the MAPK signaling pathway. Moreover, RPR and its main active ingredients exhibited a significant inhibitory effect on platelets.
In conclusion, this study revealed that RPR alleviates ischemic injury by activating the MAPK signaling pathway, and its protective effect may partly stem from inhibiting platelet activation. This work may provide a scientific basis for the development and utilization of RPR as a natural edible material to prevent ischemic stroke and anti-platelet therapy.
赤芍是一种药食两用的传统中药，广泛应用于心脑血管疾病的治疗。然而，赤芍对缺血性中风的疗效仍不明确。本研究综合运用网络药理学、分子对接和实验验证等方法，探讨赤芍治疗缺血性中风的作用机制。
在本研究中，我们通过网络药理学、分子对接分析和实验验证，初步阐明了赤芍对缺血性中风的治疗作用和机制。
结果表明，赤芍可改善tMCAO小鼠模型的神经功能缺损评分，减小梗死灶大小，减轻脑水肿症状。此外，通过网络药理学和分子对接，确定了与赤芍治疗缺血性中风密切相关的四个核心靶点（MAPK3、TNF-α、MAPK14和JNK），它们与赤芍的两个关键活性成分：芍药苷（AF）和β-谷甾醇（BSS）表现出很强的亲和力。蛋白质印迹法显示了赤芍通过调节MAPK信号通路治疗缺血性中风的潜在机制。此外，赤芍及其主要活性成分对血小板有显著的抑制作用。
总之，本研究表明赤芍通过激活MAPK信号通路减轻缺血性损伤，其保护作用可能部分源于抑制血小板活化。本研究可为赤芍作为预防缺血性中风的天然可食用材料及抗血小板治疗的开发利用提供科学依据。
