Systems Pharmacology Based Study of the Molecular Mechanism of SiNiSan Formula for Application in Nervous and Mental Diseases

Abstract

Background. Mental disorder is a group of systemic diseases characterized by a variety of physical and mental discomfort, which has become the rising threat to human life. Herbal medicines were used to treat mental disorders for thousand years in China in which the molecular mechanism is not yet clear. Objective. To systematically explain the mechanisms of SiNiSan (SNS) formula on the treatment of mental disorders. Method. A systems pharmacology method, with ADME screening, targets prediction, and DAVID enrichment analysis, was employed as the principal approach in our study. Results. 60 active ingredients of SNS formula and 187 mental disorders related targets were discovered to have interactions with them. Furthermore, the enrichment analysis of drug-target network showed that SNS probably acts through “multi-ingredient, multitarget, and multisystems” holistic coordination in different organs pattern by indirectly regulating the nutritional and metabolic pathway even their serial complications. Conclusions. Our research provides a reference for the molecular mechanism of medicinal herbs in the treatment of mental disease on a systematic level. Hopefully, it will also provide a theoretical basis for the discovery of lead compounds of natural medicines for other diseases based on traditional medicine.

SiNiSan Ameliorates the Depression-Like Behavior of Rats That Experienced Maternal Separation Through 5-HT1A Receptor/CREB/BDNF Pathway

“…SPT and FST are usually applied to rats to evaluate depression-like behavior and antidepressant effect. The effect of SNS on mental disorders and chronic stress-related diseases, such as depression, has been already demonstrated in some studies, but age specificity was not mentioned (27, 28). Our results indicated that young and adult MS rats exhibited anhedonia during SPT as shown by the reduced sucrose consumption and behavioral despair during FST as shown by augmented immobility time.…”

Si-Ni-San Prevents Reserpine-Induced Depression by Inhibiting Inflammation and Regulating CYP450 Enzymatic Activity

“…SNS can soothe the liver, remove internal heat, strengthen the spleen, and nourish the blood. Furthermore, it has been clinically applied for the improvement of mental diseases, including depression and other conditions (Shen et al, 2016). Although SNS has certain clinical effects in the treatment of depression (Wang et al, 2009), the lack of rigorous experimental research counteracts the unique advantages of TCM, which seriously hinders its promotion and application worldwide.…”

The Efficacy and Safety of Modified Xiaoyao San for Perimenopausal Syndrome (PMS): A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

“…It is noteworthy XYS has been approved as a non-prescription formula by State Food and Drug Administration (SFDA), which reinforce validity about the safety of XYS. The explanation of the encouraging safety might be that the multi-target effect of herbal preparations may produce relatively low concentration of active ingredients [40]. As we mentioned above that majority of women with PMS preferred non-pharmacological interventions to HRT [17] [18] [19], XYS can be recommended for its distinguished safety.…”