An integrated strategy to explore the wine-processed mechanism of Corni Fructus on chronic renal failure based on metabolomics, network analysis and bioinformatics approaches

Abstract

Objectives Corni Fructus is one of the most famous traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) for the treatment of various chronic kidney diseases. Wine-processed Corni Fructus (WCF) is the main processed form of Crude Corni Fructus (CCF). In this study, potential mechanisms of action of CCF and WCF on chronic renal failure (CRF) model were developed to explore wine-processed mechanism of Corni Fructus. Methods An integrated strategy combining metabolomics, network analysis and bioinformatics analysis has been established to investigate the therapeutic mechanisms of WCF and CCF in rats with CRF. Key findings The histopathological results showed that both WCF and CCF improved kidney injury and dysfunction of CRF rats, but WCF was more effective than CCF. Metabolic pathway analysis indicated that 24 metabolites and 5 major disturbed pathways associated with CCF, while WCF regulated 27 metabolites and 2 metabolic pathways. Bioinformatic analysis and network analysis revealed that 8 genes and 7 genes were regulated by CCF and WCF on CRF rats, respectively. The quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction experiments verified the regulatory ability of CCF and WCF on the expression of 4 genes. Conclusions An integrated strategy combined metabolomics, network analysis and bioinformatics was established to provide valuable holistic insight to explore the processing mechanism of TCMs.

“UHPLC‐Q‐TOF/MS‐chemometrics‐network pharmacology” integrated strategy to discover quality markers of raw and stir‐fried Fructus Tribuli and process optimization of stir‐fried Fructus Tribuli

“…As per previous research, Terrestrosin D exhibited a clear pharmacological activity, and the gray correlation degree analysis method found that Terrestrosin K metabolites had high correlations with pharmacodynamic indices. 41 Thus, it was initially concluded that Terrestrosin D is an RFT Q-marker and Terrestrosin K is an SFT Q-marker. However, multivariate statistical analysis combined with network pharmacology analysis revealed six other potential Q-markers of RFT and four potential Q-markers of SFT.…”

“…18,21 The pharmacokinetics of Terrestrosin K and Terrestrosin D has also been investigated via in vivo experiments in rats. 27,[36][37][38] However, considering the current state of research on RFT and SFT and production and development of reference standards of FT, Terrestrosin D and Terrestrosin K are the best choices that can meet the Q-marker requirements at this stage. Therefore, given the conclusions of previous studies and considering the "five principles" of Q-marker research, it was initially concluded that Terrestrosin D is an RFT Q-marker and Terrestrosin K is an SFT Q-marker.…”

Comparison of Crude and Wine-Steamed Corni Fructus Based on UPLC-Q-TOF-MS Combined With Pharmacodynamics Screening

“…It nourishes the liver and kidney and tightens astringency. 1–4 It is often used for dizziness, tinnitus, soreness in the waist and knees, impotence and nocturnal emission, enuresis, frequent urination, metrorrhagia, profuse sweating, and diabetes, among others. The decoction of Corni Fructus is recorded in the 2020 edition of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia.…”