A Network Pharmacology Study of Reduning Injection for the Treatment of Coronavirus Disease-19

Objective: The 2019 novel coronavirus (2019?nCoV) outbreak has escalated into a global pandemic. According to Chinese guidance for coronavirus disease?19 (COVID?19): Prevention, control, diagnosis, and management, Reduning injection can effectively treat, the disease caused by the virus. To identify the active ingredients of Reduning injection and COVID?19 disease?related pathways, we conducted a network pharmacology study. Methods: The Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology database was used to screen the chemical constituents and potential targets of Reduning injection. The gene names were converted to the corresponding protein names using UniProt. GeneCards and OMIM databases were used to select targets related to 2019?nCoV. Using Cytoscape 3.7.2 software platform and STRING database, we constructed drug?common target and target protein protein?protein interaction network diagrams. Rx64 3.6.2 software and Bioconductor biological information software package were used for? Gene Ontology (GO) functional enrichment and KEGG pathway analyses. Results: In Reduning injection, a total of 33 effective chemical components were obtained that were involved in 151 signaling pathways, of which 44 targets were considered therapeutically relevant. Conclusion: Reduning injection can be potentially applied for the treatment of COVID-19 based on the results of our network pharmacology study.     

Prediction of quality markers of traditional Chinese medicines based on network pharmacology

Network pharmacology is a powerful tool to reflect the pharmacologically active effects, mechanism of action and toxic activity of traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs). The ingredients of TCMs, associated with quality control of TCM products, are those fundamental chemicals that exhibit biological activities. A great amount of effort has been made by scientists in that field in order to improve the quality of TCMs, though the approaches to determine their quality and the TCM theory and compatibility rules remain ambiguous. Now some methods and technologies must be applied to predict and explore the quality marker (Q-marker) for quality control, as well as to clarify the factors affecting the quality of TCM, which may give new insight into rational ground of establishment of appropriate quality control and assessment system. In this review paper, authors focus on the prediction of quality markers of TCMs by network pharmacology based on three aspects: (1) from network medicine to network pharmacology, (2) complex network system of traditional Chinese medicine, and (3) predicting TCM quality markers based on network pharmacology. Authors proposed the research pattern on network pharmacology based on biological and medical networks, and further TCM network pharmacology based on substantial basis of TCM formulae, and the idea of “effect-ingredient-target-fingerprint” to predict and recognize the TCM Q-marker was the ultimate goal. In addition, authors yet noted how to make full use of the advantages of network toxicology to provide new ideas for the toxicity study of complex TCM systems and the prediction of TCM toxicity markers.     

COMMENTS ON THE HOLISTIC ACTION OF ACUPUNCTURE IN VIEW OF ITS INFLUENCE ON NERVE-ENDOCRINE-IMMUNE NETWORK

In the present paper, the author makes some comments on the holistic action of acupuncture from the regulative effect on the nerve-endocrine-immune network, and the close relationship between the nerve-endocrineimmune network and the meridian-collateral system of TOM. The wholism concept of TOM refers to the organism being an integrated entirety, and the regulatory effect of acupuncture on functional activities of the organism relies on the integral connection of the acupoint--meridian-collateral-zangfu-organ system. When stimulated with acupuncture, the human body will brings its potential force into full play in preventing and treating diseases.     

Network Pharmacology-based Approaches Capture Essence of Chinese Herbal Medicines

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), a crucial component of the current medical system, has been extensively used in clinical practice due to its valuable therapeutic efficacy, and its potentials as an important source of new pharmacophores. TCM is characterized by holistic theory, which emphasizes maintaining the balance of the patient’s whole body using herbal formulae (fangji in Chinese) composed of mixtures of herbs with multiple bioactive ingredients. Because of the complex nature of these formulae, it is necessary to develop systematic methods to identify their bioactive ingredients and to clarify their mechanisms of action. With the rapid progress in bioinformatics, systems biology, and polypharmacology, “network pharmacology”, which shifts the “one target, one drug” paradigm to the “network target, multi-component” strategy, has attracted the attention because it can not only reveal the underlying complex interactions between a herbal formula and cellular proteins but detect the influence of their interactions on the function and behavior of the system. Growing evidence shows that the network pharmacology strategy can be a powerful approach to modern research on TCM. The present paper focuses on the basis of network pharmacology and the recent progress in its methodology, illustrates its utility in screening bioactive ingredients and elucidating the mechanisms of action of TCM herbal formulae, analyzes its limitations and problems, and discusses its development direction and application prospects.     

Neuroendocrine‑Immune Regulating Mechanisms for the Anti‑Inflammatory and Analgesic Actions of Acupuncture

Pain and inflammatory diseases are important clinical indications of acupuncture, which have been widely accepted in the international community. Previous studies have been focusing on rapid analgesia of acupuncture through the regulation of nervous system, but few studies on the inflammation regulatory mechanismsin which acupuncture inhibitsthe peripheralsensitization?induced pain. Based on studies concerning acupoint mechanisms of acupuncture actions and related researches on acupuncture regulating neuroendocrine and immune systems, we put forward the scientific hypothesis that acupuncture regulates neuroendocrine?immune (NEI) network and key response media therein, so as to achieve anti?inflammatory and analgesic effects in target organs. We have established a platform for acupuncture at ST36 to alleviate inflammatory pain in adjuvant induced arthritic rats. Based on the complex network analysis of multi?dimensional data from multi?time point and multi?site detection of NEI common signaling molecules, we have clarified the regulatory effects of acupuncture on NEI network and corresponding downstream immune network. Results indicated that monocytes/macrophages are the key targeting cells of acupuncture regulation, and acupuncture may display the anti?inflammatory and analgesic effects by regulating polarization of T cells in lymph nodes and polarization of M1/M2 macrophages in inflamed joints/paws. In addition, we have spotted a key molecule for acupuncture analgesia, CXCL1, as well as clarified the novel central analgesic mechanism of acupuncture mediated by CXCL1/CXCR2 desensitization. Thereby, we have provided novel evidence of the anti?inflammatory and analgesic actions of acupuncture through regulating NEI network and several key substances, highlighting a systemic research paradigm for investigating mechanisms of acupuncture actions.     

Network Pharmacology Bridges Traditional Application and Modern Development of Traditional Chinese Medicine

Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) has developed over thousands of years and has accumulated abundant clinical experience, forming a comprehensive and unique medical system. Emerging evidence has begun to illustrate TCM as an area of important medical rediscoveries. This review article briefly introduced the concept, significance,and technology of network pharmacology based on network biology and systems biology. It focused on the theoretical system and potential prospect of TCM network applied in TCM research and development including predicting new drug targets, action mechanism, new drug discovery; evaluating pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, safety, toxicology, quality control, and bioinformatics of drugs. We also discussed the opportunities and challenges in the development and application of network pharmacology in the modernization of TCM research.     

Development and Application of Network Toxicology in Safety Research of Chinese Materia Medica

Network toxicology that is an important branch of the network pharmacology emerges on the basis of network biology. It refers to study on the toxicological features of a constructed network model which is used to analyze toxic substances and their interaction and regulation in biological systems, particularly investigate the toxic effects of drugs and/or compatibility of medicines on body, and clarify the mechanism of toxicity. Network toxicology currently develops rapidly in safety prediction of Chinese materia medica(CMM). The application of network toxicology to safety and toxicology study on CMM is extremely beneficial to identify the toxic components and potential incompatibility of CMM. Since CMM is a complex system with multi-components, multi-targets, and multi-interactions, the network toxicology in safety prediction of CMM faces three great challenges, including integration studies of bioinformatics, innovation of methods, and tools and risk assessment in future development of the network toxicology in CMM research. In this paper, relevant database, approaches and tools that network toxicology utilized in the safety study of CMM were carefully reviewed. Based on the progress made, the scientific development and modernization of CMM will be greatly enhanced.     

A network pharmacology study of Sendeng-4,a Mongolian medicine

We collected the data on the Sendeng-4 chemical composition corresponding targets through the literature and from Drug Bank, SuperT arget, TTD(Therapeutic Targets Database) and other databases and the relevant signaling pathways from the KEGG(Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes) database and established models of the chemical composition-target network and chemical composition-target- disease network using Cytoscape software, the analysis indicated that the chemical composition had at least nine different types of targets that acted together to exert effects on the diseases, suggesting a "multi-component, multi-target" feature of the traditional Mongolian medicine. We also employed the rat model of rheumatoid arthritis induced by Collgen Type II to validate the key targets of the chemical components of Sendeng-4, and three of the key targets were validated through laboratory experiments, further confirming the anti-inflammatory effects of Sendeng-4. In all, this study predicted the active ingredients and targets of Sendeng-4, and explored its mechanism of action, which provided new strategies and methods for further research and development of Sendeng-4 and other traditional Mongolian medicines as well.     

Exploring the mechanism of hirudin in the treatment of diabetic kidney disease using network pharmacology combined with molecular docking verification

OBJECTIVE:To explore the mechanism of hirudin in the treatment of diabetic kidney disease(DKD). METHOD:Cytoscape software was used to analyze the network between hirudin targets and active components in the treatment of DKD. The biological function and mechanism of effective targets of hirudin for DKD treatment were analyzed by the Database for Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery(DAVID) database. Molecular docking technology was used to simulate the docking of key targets, and the...     

中药农药现状与对策

The rational use of pesticides is first question of sustainable agriculture.In the 21st century,to effectively control pesticide residues in agricultural production and national economy occupies an important position.The herb is the source of traditional Chinese medicine（TCM)industry and the raw materials of industrial production of TCM products,it also is the basis for the treat diseases of Chinese medicines.Since the 1980 s,due to TCM herbs planting varieties increase,planting area expanding and pesticides application frequently,the production of TCM herbs is in a state of disorder and the abuse of pesticides becomes a main causes of excessive pesticide residues of TCM materials,it also is one of the important factors that affect the quality and security of TCM materials.Recently,the problem of serious excessive pesticide residues on TCM products has aroused the concern of the society in all aspects.Based on preliminary investigation of the current situation of pesticide used on TCM herbs production,this article put forwards the coping strategies for pesticides application,including the aspects of the production,management,detection technique and monitoring,etc.