Potential mechanisms of Lian-Zhi-Fan solution for TNBS-induced ulcerative colitis in rats via a metabolomics approach

Abstract

Lian-Zhi-Fan (LZF) decoction is a hospital-prescribed traditional Chinese medicine botanical drug prepared by the fermentation of decocted Coptidis Rhizome (Huanglian), Gardeniae Fructus (Zhizi), and alum (Baifan). It has been used clinically in China for the treatment of anal fistula, perianal abscess, ulcerative colitis (UC), and other anorectal diseases for hundreds of years. However, due to the complexity of traditional Chinese medicine, the potential mechanisms of LZF in the treatment of UC have remained unknown. This study primarily investigated the remarkable pharmacological effects of LZF on TNBS-induced UC rats. To explore the complex targets and regulatory mechanisms of metabolic networks under LZF intervention, a metabolomics approach mediated by HPLC/Q-TOF-MS analysis was used to screen the different metabolites and their metabolic pathways in the serum in order to characterize the possible anti-UC mechanisms of LZF. After rectal administration of LZF for seven consecutive days, significant amelioration effects on body weight loss, DAI score, and colon inflammation were found in UC rats. Based on this, further metabolomics identified 14 potential biomarkers in the treatment of UC with LZF, of which five possessed diagnostic significance: L-alanine, taurocholic acid, niacinamide, cholic acid, and L-valine. These metabolites are mainly involved in 12 metabolic pathways, including nicotate and nicotinamide metabolism, glycospholipid metabolism, arginine and proline metabolism, primary bile acid biosynthesis, and pantothenate and CoA biosynthesis. These metabolic pathways suggest that LZF ameliorates UC by regulating amino acid metabolism, fat metabolism, and energy production. This study provides a useful approach for exploring the potential mechanisms of herbal prescription in UC treatment mediated by metabolomics.

Qi‐dan‐dihuang decoction ameliorates renal fibrosis in diabetic rats via p38MAPK/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway

“…The targets of the compounds obtained from HPLC‐Q‐TOF‐MS were identified using the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform (TCMSP, https://old.tcmsp-e.com/tcmsp.php) database. TCMSP consists of all 499 Chinese herbs registered in the Chinese Pharmacopeia (2010 edition) with 29 384 ingredients, 3311 targets, and 837 associated diseases, and provides 12 important properties such as human oral bioavailability, drug‐likeness, half‐life, and Caco‐2 permeability for drug screening and evaluation 12 . Next, the target names were transformed into official symbols via the UniProt KB search function in the UniProt database (http://www.uniprot.org/) by entering the protein name and defining the species as “ Homo sapiens .” 13 The GeneCards database (https://www.genecards.org/) provides comprehensive information on all the annotated and predicted human genes.…”