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Objective Our objective was to investigate the potential mechanism of action of Qihuang Jiangtang capsule (QHJTC) in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) through network pharmacology and molecular docking. Methods The active components of materia medica in the formula of QHJTC were searched on the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform and Encyclopedia of Traditional Chinese Medicine. The targets related to the active components were obtained via PubChem database. The targets related to T2DM were retrieved through the GeneCards database. The targets corresponding to the active components and diabetes mellitus were uploaded to the Venn diagrams website to get the Venn diagram, and the intersecting targets were the potential targets of QHJTC in treating T2DM. The active components and potential targets were imported into Cytoscape 3.7.2 software to construct the active component–potential target network, and the key compounds and targets were screened by the Network Analyzer module in the Tools module. The potential targets were imported into the STRING database to obtain the interaction relationships, so as to analyze and construct the protein–protein interaction (PPI) network by Cytoscape 3.7.2 software. The intersecting targets were introduced into Metascape for gene ontology (GO) functional enrichment analysis and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis. The top 20 signaling pathways obtained by the KEGG pathway enrichment analysis and the related targets and the corresponding targets were analyzed by using Cytoscape 3.7.2 software to construct the “active component–important target-key pathway network ” for the intervention of T2DM with QHJTC. The molecular docking of active components and core targets was performed with AutoDock software. Results A total of 237 active components and 281 related targets were obtained from QHJTC, as well as 1 362 T2DM targets and 155 potential targets of QHJTC in treating T2DM. There were 32 key components and 49 key targets identified by the active component–potential target network topology analysis. There were 471 terms obtained from GO functional enrichment analysis, among which 248 related to biological processes, 125 related to molecular functions, and 98 related to cellular components. There were 299 signaling pathways obtained from KEGG pathway enrichment analysis. The active components of QHJTC were found spontaneously binding to the core targets. Conclusions QHJTC can treat T2DM through multi-components, multi-targets, and multi-pathways.

Aims. Abnormal changes in cardiac function have been reported in menopausal women, but there are few clinical studies on this topic. Erxian decoction (EXD) is a classic prescription that is widely used in the treatment of female menopausal diseases. The purpose of this study was to investigate the dynamic evolution of cardiac function and glucose and lipid metabolism in ovariectomized (OVX) rats and the intervention effect of EXD. Materials and Methods. The OVX climacteric rat model was established by bilateral ovariectomy. After successful modeling, the rats were randomly divided into four groups: the sham operation (SHAM) group (equal volumes of purified water), OVX group (equal volumes of purified water), estradiol (E2) group (1.8 × 10−4 g/kg), and EXD group (9 g/kg). Each group of rats was treated for 16 weeks. At the 4th, 8th, 12th, and 16th weeks after treatment, the cardiac function of the rats in each group was evaluated by ultrasound. The coaxial method was used to measure blood pressure (BP). Serum endothelin-1 (ET-1) and angiotensin-2 (Ang II) levels were determined by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The strip method was used to measure fasting blood glucose (FBG). The serum total cholesterol (TC) and triglyceride (TG) levels of rats were measured with the oxidase method. Direct methods were used to measure serum high-density lipoprotein (HDL-C) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C) levels. At week 16 of dosing, serum E2 levels were determined by E2 radioimmunoassay. The myocardium and uterus of the rats in each group were stained with HE (hematoxylin-eosin). The ultrastructure of the rat myocardium was observed by electron microscopy. Results. After the 16th week of treatment, the serum E2 level decreased ( P < 0.05 ), and the uterus was atrophied in OVX rats. The cardiac ejection fraction (EF%) decreased at 4 weeks after treatment, and systolic and diastolic function decreased after 12 weeks. After the 16th week, the EF%, which reflects the “pump” function of the heart, decreased significantly ( P < 0.05 or P < 0.01 ). At the 4th, 8th, 12th, and 16th weeks of treatment, the systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and mean pressure (MBP) of the rats in the OVX group increased with time ( P < 0.05 or P < 0.01 ). The serum ET-1 and Ang II levels of rats in the OVX group increased ( P < 0.05 or P < 0.01 ). In the OVX group, FBG was increased ( P < 0.05 or P < 0.01 ), and blood lipids, especially LDL-C, were significantly increased ( P < 0.05 or P < 0.01 ). After the 16th week of treatment, the myocardial tissue of OVX rats showed obvious pathological changes. EXD significantly increased serum E2 levels ( P < 0.01 ), decreased ET-1 and Ang II levels ( P < 0.01 ), reduced the cardiac function risk factors BP, FBG, and blood lipids, and significantly improved cardiac function and structural changes in OVX rats ( P < 0.05 or P < 0.01 ). Conclusions. EXD can improve abnormal cardiac structure and function in OVX rats.