Network Pharmacological Study on the Mechanism of Cynanchum paniculatum (Xuchangqing) in the Treatment of Bungarus multicinctus Bites

Abstract

Background. Bungarus multicinctus is one of the top ten venomous snakes in China. Its venom is mainly neurotoxin-based. Novel antivenom drugs need to be further researched and developed. Objective. This study aimed to explore the molecular mechanism of Cynanchum paniculatum in treating Bungarus multicinctus bites based on network pharmacology. Material and methods. The potential active ingredients of Cynanchum paniculatum were screened and their SDF structures were obtained using the PubChem database and imported into the SwissTargetPrediction database, and targets were obtained for the antitoxin effects of Cynanchum paniculatum in the treatment of Bungarus multicinctus bites. The Cynanchum paniculatum-active compound-potential target network and protein-protein interaction network were constructed by using Cytoscape software, and then biological function analysis and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis were performed using the DAVID. Results. Seven potential active components (cynapanoside C, cynatratoside B, tomentolide A, sitosterol, sarcostin, tomentogenin, and paeonol) and 286 drug targets were obtained, including 30 key targets for the treatment of bungarotoxin toxicity. The active components mainly acted on PIK3CA, MAPK1, MAP2K1, JAK2, FYN, ACHE, CHRNA7, CHRNA4, and CHRNB2, and they antagonized the inhibitory effect of bungarotoxin on the nervous system through cholinergic synapses and the neurotrophin signaling pathway. Conclusions. Cynanchum paniculatum exerts a therapeutic effect on Bungarus multicinctus bites through multiple active components, multiple targets, and multiple pathways. The findings provide a theoretical basis for the extraction of active components of Cynanchum paniculatum and for related antivenom experiments.

Network Pharmacology-Based Investigation on Therapeutic Mechanisms of the Angelica dahurica Radix and Ligusticum chuanxiong Rhizoma Herb Pair for Anti-Migraine Effect

“…DL properties are physicochemical properties that qualitatively assess the similarity between a compound and an existing or approved drug [69]. However, the published literature on the network pharmacology approach to the pharmacological mechanism of medicinal herbs has shown that herbal compounds had OB or DL values lower than threshold criteria but still participated in therapeutic mechanisms [70][71][72][73][74]. For that reason, the bioactive herbal compounds, reported in the title and abstract of papers in Pubmed and GoogleScholar with the searching query: "Angelica dahurica" or "A. dahurica" or "Ligusticum chuanxiong" or "L. chuanxiong" AND "migraine" or "headache", were also collected.…”

<i>In </i><i>Silico</i> Screening of Potential Inhibitors against dPLA2 from Named Chinese Herbs for Identification of Compounds with Antivenom Effects Due to <i>Deinagkistrodon acutus </i>Snake Bites

“…Recently, the investigations of curative monomers in Chinese herbal medicines also made great progress [28] [29] [30]. Linsheng Zeng et al screened 7 potential active ingredients from Cynanchum paniculatum against the venom of Bungarus multicinctus by Network Pharmacological method [31]. However, there are few reports about the treatment of Deinagkistrodon acutus venom by Chinese herbal monomer, dPLA2 have not been explored as a molecular target so far [32].…”