Analysis of Network Pharmacological Efficacy and Therapeutic Effectiveness in Animal Models for Functional Dyspepsia of Foeniculi fructus

Abstract

For centuries, Foeniculi fructus (F. fructus) has been used as a traditional herbal medicine in China and Europe and is widely used as a natural therapy for digestive disorders, including indigestion, flatulence, and bloating. The mechanism of F. fructus that alleviates functional dyspepsia was analyzed through network pharmacology, and its therapeutic effect on an animal model of functional dyspepsia were investigated. The traditional Chinese medicine systems pharmacology (TCMSP) database was used to investigate the compounds, targets, and associated diseases of F. fructus. Information on the target genes was classified using the UniProtdatabase. Using the Cytoscape 3.9.1 software, a network was constructed, and the Cytoscape string application was employed to examine genes associated with functional dyspepsia. The efficacy of F. fructus on functional dyspepsia was confirmed by treatment with its extract in a mouse model of loperamide-induced functional dyspepsia. Seven compounds targeted twelve functional dyspepsia-associated genes. When compared to the control group, F. fructus exhibited significant suppression of symptoms in a mouse model of functional dyspepsia. The results of our animal studies indicated a close association between the mechanism of action of F. fructus and gastrointestinal motility. Based on animal experimental results, the results showed that F. fructus provided a potential means to treat functional dyspepsia, suggesting that its medical mechanism for functional dyspepsia could be described by the relationship between seven key compounds of F. fructus, including oleic acid, β-sitosterol, and 12 functional dyspepsia-related genes.

Simultaneous Analysis of Thirteen Compounds in Yeokwisan Using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography–Photodiode Array Detection and Ultra-Performance Liquid Chromatography–Tandem Mass Spectrometry and Their Antioxidant Effects

“…Furthermore, for the YMC-Triart column (Figure S3C), isoliquiritigenin and glycyrrhizin were detected at the same retention time, and the resolution of poncirin was not as good as that achieved with the other columns. Although the resolution of 4-hydroxycinnamic acid on the SunFire TM column was slightly low, we were 5), ononin (6), baicalin (7), poncirin (8), wogonoside (9), baicalein (10), isoliquiritigenin (11), glycyrrhizin (12), and wogonin (13). The concentrations of each marker compound in the mixed standard solution were as follows: 4-hydroxycinnamic acid (10.00 µg/mL); ononin, baicalin, wogonoside, baicalein, isoliquiritigenin, and wogonin (20.00 µg/mL); narirutin and naringin (30.00 µg/mL); liquiritin (40.00 µg/mL); liquiritin apioside and poncirin (50.00 µg/mL); and glycyrrhizin (100.00 µg/mL).…”

“…formic acid (A), 0.1% (v/v) trifluoroacetic acid (B), and 1.0% (v/v) acetic acid (C). Liquiritin apioside (1), liquiritin (2), 4-hydroxycinnamic acid (3), narirutin (4), naringin (5), ononin (6), baicalin (7), poncirin (8), wogonoside (9), baicalein (10), isoliquiritigenin (11), glycyrrhizin (12), and wogonin (13); Figure S6: Comparison of HPLC-PDA chromatograms according to the flow rate for the 13 selected marker compounds: 0.8 mL/min (A) and 1.0 mL/min (B). Liquiritin apioside (1), liquiritin (2), 4-hydroxycinnamic acid (3), narirutin (4), naringin (5), ononin (6), baicalin (7), poncirin (8), wogonoside (9), baicalein (10), isoliquiritigenin (11), glycyrrhizin (12), and wogonin (13); Figure S7: HPLC chromatograms at LOD (A) and LOQ (B) concentrations.…”

“…Liquiritin apioside (1), liquiritin (2), 4-hydroxycinnamic acid (3), narirutin (4), naringin (5), ononin (6), baicalin (7), poncirin (8), wogonoside (9), baicalein (10), isoliquiritigenin (11), glycyrrhizin (12), and wogonin (13); Figure S6: Comparison of HPLC-PDA chromatograms according to the flow rate for the 13 selected marker compounds: 0.8 mL/min (A) and 1.0 mL/min (B). Liquiritin apioside (1), liquiritin (2), 4-hydroxycinnamic acid (3), narirutin (4), naringin (5), ononin (6), baicalin (7), poncirin (8), wogonoside (9), baicalein (10), isoliquiritigenin (11), glycyrrhizin (12), and wogonin (13); Figure S7: HPLC chromatograms at LOD (A) and LOQ (B) concentrations. Liquiritin apioside (1), liquiritin (2), 4-hydroxycinnamic acid (3), narirutin (4), naringin (5), ononin (6), baicalin (7), poncirin (8), wogonoside (9), baicalein (10), isoliquiritigenin (11), glycyrrhizin (12), and wogonin (13); Figure S8: Mass fragmentation of each marker compound for simultaneous analysis; Figure S9: Precursor ion (Q1; left) and product ion (Q3; right) peaks for each marker compound.…”

“…Wavelength for quantification, linear range, regression equation, coefficient of determination (r 2 ), limit of detection (LOD), and limit of quantitation (LOQ) using HPLC-PDA simultaneous analysis of the 13 marker compounds in YWS. 5), ononin (6), baicalin (7), poncirin (8), wogonoside (9), baicalein (10), isoliquiritigenin (11), glycyrrhizin (12), and wogonin (13). 2 y: peak area of compounds; x: concentration (µg/mL) of compounds.…”

“…, baicalein (10), isoliquiritigenin (11), glycyrrhizin (12), and wogonin (13). The concentrations of the 13 marker compounds in the mixed standard solution were as follows: 12 µg/L (isoliquiritigenin), 280 µg/L (liquiritin and ononin), 300 µg/L (4-hydroxycinnamic acid), 520 µg/L (wogonin), 1040 µg/L (narirutin), 1080 µg/L (poncirin), 1400 µg/L (baicalein), 2320 µg/L (isoliquiritin apioside), 4800 µg/L (naringin), 7600 µg/L (wogonoside), 8000 µg/L (glycyrrhizin), and 28,000 µg/L (baicalin).…”