Drug Ingredients Research Articles

Accurate prediction of drug-target interactions in Chinese and western medicine by the CWI-DTI model

Accurate prediction of drug-target interactions (DTIs) is crucial for advancing drug discovery and repurposing. Computational methods have significantly improved the efficiency of experimental predictions for drug-target interactions in Western medicine. However, accurately predicting the complex relationships between Chinese medicine ingredients and targets remains a formidable challenge due to the vast number and high heterogeneity of these ingredients. In this study, we introduce the CWI-DTI method, which achieves high-accuracy prediction of DTIs using a large dataset of interactive relationships of drug ingredients or candidate targets. Moreover, we present a novel dataset to evaluate the prediction accuracy of both Chinese and Western medicine. Through meticulous collection and preprocessing of data on ingredients and targets, we employ an innovative autoencoder framework to fuse multiple drug (target) topological similarity matrices. Additionally, we employ denoising blocks, sparse blocks, and stacked blocks to extract crucial features from the similarity matrix, reducing noise and enhancing accuracy across diverse datasets. Our results indicate that the CWI-DTI model shows improved performance compared to several existing state-of-the-art methods on the datasets tested in both Western and Chinese medicine databases. The findings of this study hold immense promise for advancing DTI prediction in Chinese and Western medicine, thus fostering more efficient drug discovery and repurposing endeavors. Our model is available at https://github.com/WANG-BIN-LAB/CWIDTI.

New challenges in scar therapy: the novel scar therapy strategies based on nanotechnology.

The pathological mechanism of pathological scar is highly complex, encompassing the abnormalities of diverse cytokines, signaling pathways and regulatory factors. To discover more preferable scar treatment options, a variety of distinct approaches have been utilized clinically. Nevertheless, these treatments possess certain side effects and are inclined to relapse. Presently, pathological scar treatment remains a clinical conundrum, and there is an urgent demand for treatment methods that are safe, less traumatic and have lower recurrence rates. New drug delivery systems, novel therapeutic drugs and therapy strategies can enable drugs to permeate the skin effectively, decrease side effects, enhance drug efficacy and even achieve pain-free self-administration. Currently, novel nanotechnologies such as nanomicroneedles, photodynamics mediated by novel photosensitizers, bioelectrical stimulation and 3D printed dressings have been developed for the effective treatment of pathological scars. Additionally, innovative nanoscale fillers, including nano-fat and engineered exosomes, can serve as novel therapeutic agents for the efficient treatment of pathological scars. The intervention of nanomaterials can enhance drug absorption, stabilize and safeguard the active ingredients of drugs, delay or control drug release and enhance bioavailability. This article reviews these new treatment strategies for scar to explore novel approaches for efficient and safe for keloid treatment.

Hidden drug ingredients in Umary and Amazy products, warning by US FDA

Hidden drug ingredients in Umary and Amazy products, warning by US FDA

LED light treatments enhance neuroprotective properties and differentially impact phenolic compounds and triterpenoid content in Gotu Kola (Centella asiatica (L.) Urb.)

Due to an array of medicinal properties being attributed to Gotu kola (Centella asiatica (L.) Urb.), there is a growing demand for the incorporation of the plant as an herbal ingredient in drugs, cosmetics but mainly in dietary supplements and herbal drugs, which has been causing a gradual decline on its wild population. A possible way might be the improvement of the content in bioactive constituents that, in this specific matter, have been mainly labelled as being pentacyclic triterpenoids. We hypothesize that using light-emitting diode (LED) treatments can enhance its content in bioactives and improve its neuroprotective effects.Specific LED light treatments caused a metabolic shift, globally reducing the concentrations of the triterpenoids madecassoside, asiaticoside, and their corresponding aglycones. However, LED light treatments caused a pronounced increase in specific phenolic bioactives in comparison with samples obtained under sunlight, mostly pronounced in the concentrations of di-O-caffeoylquinic acids. Principal component analysis corroborated that the improvement on the neuroinflammatory status in BV-2 microglial cells and enhanced inhibition of tyrosinase are correlated with the increase in specific phenolic constituents resulting from LED light treatments.While the anti-neuroinflammatory effects in BV-2 microglial cells are demonstrated here for the first time, our core findings are mostly crucial for meeting the increased demand for C. asiatica in herbal products, as our LED light treatment boosts yields in specific phenolic bioactives and improves neuroprotective effects.

To Explore the Rule and Mechanism of Traditional Chinese Medicine in the Treatment of Postmenopausal Osteoporosis Based on Data Mining, Network Pharmacology and Molecular Docking Technology

Postmenopausal osteoporosis (PMOP) is an important part of primary osteoporosis, and the current clinical treatment program for PMOP is easily limited by side effects and adverse reactions, so it is particularly important to seek more efficient, safe, and economical drug treatment for PMOP. In recent years, with the change of disease treatment mode and the gradual deepening of Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) research on PMOP, a review of the literature reveals that there is a huge number of studies on the use of TCM in the treatment of PMOP, but there are no relevant systematic studies on the rules of its formulas and the specific mechanisms by which the core drugs exert their therapeutic effects. Therefore, in this study, we collected a total of 141 formulas used by TCM clinicians to treat PMOP, statistically analyzed their high-frequency medications, Four Qi, Five Flavors, meridians, and efficacies, and analyzed the core medications based on the association rules, which were Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata, Epimedium, Eucommia ulmoides, Rhizoma Drynariae, Angelica sinensis, Achyranthes, Astragalus propinquus, Psoralen, Cornus officinalis and licorice. A total of 87 drug pairs were obtained from the correlation analysis, and a total of 8 groups of potential core combination drugs and 4 potential new prescriptions were derived based on the cluster analysis. Subsequently, a network pharmacological analysis of the core drugs was conducted to obtain 173 active ingredients in the core drugs, including kaempferol, β-sitosterol, quercetin, etc. 298 targets of action, including MAPK3, STAT1, HSP90AA1, etc. 170 signaling pathways including AGE-RAGE, PI3 K/Akt, TNF, HIF-1 and others. The molecular docking results showed that 11 key active ingredients in the core drugs had stable binding to the target targets. This study showed that TCM treatment of PMOP is mainly based on “reinforcing liver and kidney, warmly invigorating spleen and stomach, activating blood and resolving stasis.” Core drugs therapy for PMOP is a comprehensive intervention through multi-component, multi-target, and multi-pathway approaches. The minimum binding energies between the 11 key active ingredients and the 11 key targets were calculated in a comprehensive analysis, which shows that the core drugs have good binding activities to their therapeutic targets, proving that the predictions of this study are reliable. In the future, it will provide certain medication basis and data support for TCM treatment of PMOP.

Fermentation: improvement of pharmacological effects and applications of botanical drugs.

Fermentation is an important concoction technique for botanical drugs. Fermentation transforms and enhances the active ingredients of botanical drugs through specific microbiological processes, ultimately affecting their pharmacological effects. This review explores the use of fermented botanical drugs in areas such as anti-tumor, hypolipidemic, antioxidant, antimicrobial, cosmetology, and intestinal flora regulation. It elucidates the potential pharmacological mechanisms and discusses the benefits of fermentation technology for botanical drugs, including reducing toxic side effects, enhancing drug efficacy, and creating new active ingredients. This article also discussesdelves into the common strains and factors influencing the fermentation process, which are crucial for the successful transformation and enhancement of these drugs. Taken together, this study aimed to provide a reference point for further research and wider applications of botanical drug fermentation technology.

Exploration of the potential mechanism of aqueous extract of Artemisia capillaris for the treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease based on network pharmacology and experimental verification.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a nutritional and metabolic disease with a high prevalence today. Artemisia capillaris has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and other effects. However, the mechanism of A. capillaris in treating NAFLD is still poorly understood. This study explored the mechanism of A. capillaris in the treatment of NAFLD through network pharmacology and molecular docking, and verified the results through in vivo experiments using a high-fat diet-induced mouse model and in vitro experiments using an oleic acid-induced HepG2 cell model. Aqueous extract of A. capillaris (AEAC) can reduce blood lipids, reduce liver lipid accumulation and liver inflammation in NAFLD mice, and improve NAFLD. Network pharmacology analysis revealed that 51 drug ingredients in A. capillaris correspond to 370 targets that act on NAFLD. GEO data mining obtained 93 liver differentially expressed genes related to NAFLD. In the UHPLC-MS detection results, 36 components were characterized and molecular docked with JNK. Verified in vitro and in vivo, the results show that JNK and the phosphorylation levels of IL-6, IL-1β, c-Jun, c-Fos, and CCL2 are key targets and pathways. This study confirmed that AEAC reduces lipid accumulation and inflammation in the liver of NAFLD mice by inhibiting the JNK/AP-1 pathway.

Mechanism of inhibition of TLR4/NFκB/NLRP3 inflammatory pathway against AD based on the network pharmacology of Erjing Pills.

Alzheimer disease is an irreversible neurodegenerative disease, and its pathogenesis involves various mechanisms such as neuroinflammation and β-amyloid deposition. Erjing Pills can inhibit neuroinflammation by inhibiting toll-like receptor 4/nuclear factor kappa-B/nucleotide-binding domain leucine-rich repeat and pyrin domain-containing protein 3; however, qualitative analysis of the material basis is lacking. Therefore, it is necessary to analyze and explore the material basis of network pharmacology research. This study employed a multifaceted approach, including drug-like screening, molecular docking, and bioinformatic analysis. Preliminary screening identified 59 drug ingredients in Erjing Pills that met the Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion and Toxicity screening criteria. Among these, 7 ingredients, including diosgenin, exhibited superior binding properties compared with the positive drugs in molecular docking. Gene ontology annotation and pathway analysis revealed their involvement in crucial biological processes, such as hormone response, insulin resistance, and steroid hormone biosynthesis signaling pathways, which are known for their anti-inflammatory and cognitive enhancement effects. A meta-analysis of relevant literature corroborated the anti-inflammatory activities of diosgenin and 5 other ingredients. These 5 ingredients, with diosgenin as a prominent candidate, exert anti-inflammatory effects by targeting key components of the toll-like receptor 4/nuclear factor kappa-B/nucleotide-binding domain leucine-rich repeat and pyrin domain-containing protein 3 inflammatory pathway, thereby presenting potential efficacy in the treatment of Alzheimer disease.

Eleven new glycosidic acid methyl esters from the crude resin glycoside fraction of Ipomoea alba seeds.

Resin glycosides are characteristic of plants of the Convolvulaceae family and are well-known purgative ingredients in crude drugs, such as Rhizoma Jalapae, Orizaba Jalapa Tuber, and Pharbitidis Semen, which are used in traditional medicine and derived from plants belonging to this family. Isolated resin glycosides have demonstrated diverse biological activities, including antibacterial, ionophoric, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and multidrug-resistance-modulating properties, as well as cytotoxicity against cancer cells. These compounds consist of hydroxyl fatty acid oligoglycosides (glycosidic acids), with portions of the saccharide moieties acylated with some organic acids to form the core structure. This study investigated the glycosidic acid components of a crude resin glycoside fraction obtained from a methanolic extract of Ipomoea alba L. seeds (Convolvulaceae). Eleven new glycosidic acid methyl esters and one known methyl ester were isolated from a glycosidic acid fraction treated with trimethylsilyldiazomethane in hexane. Their structures were determined using acidic hydrolysis and electrospray ionization-time of fight mass spectrometry and NMR spectral analyses. These compounds are penta-, tetra-, or triglycosides, with methyl 11S-hydroxytetradecanoate or methyl 11S-hydroxyhexadecanoate as the aglycone. Although D-quinovose and L-rhamnose are common monosaccharide components, the remaining monosaccharides are D-glucose, D-xylose, or D-fucose. The crude resin glycoside fraction showed non-negligible cytotoxicity against HL-60 human promyelocytic leukemia cells.

Inorganic salt-induced micellar morphologies in deep eutectic solvent: Structure and curcumin solubilization

Physico-spectroscopic data of deep eutectic solvent (DES, aquolines (choline chloride, ChCl: water (1:2 (DES I), 1:3 (DES II), 1:4 (DES III), and 1:5 (DES IV)) have been collected. The data differentiates DES I to DES III (DESs) from DES IV (molecular solution of ChCl). DESs (aquolines) are used to study association structures of surfactant + salt systems using spectrofluorometry, polarizing optical microscopy (POM), and dynamic light scattering (DLS). POM images show the formation of giant aggregates (vesicles, up to 3.3 µm) in DTAB – aquoline – salt system which was further confirmed using DLS. These systems show excessive solubility enhancement of the poorly water-soluble curcumin (CCM), a well-known natural drug and food ingredient. Solubility of CCM shows the following order: water < DES < DES + salt < DTAB-DESs < DTAB-salt-aquoline. CCM shows up to 250-fold solubility in DTAB-KNO3-DES I system compared to water. The work forging a new methodology of achieving giant amphiphilic aggregates and their application in improving the aqueous solubilities/extraction of hydrophobic materials.

Integrated network pharmacology and molecular docking to investigate the potential mechanism of Tufuling on Alzheimer's disease

ObjectiveThis study aimed to investigate the mechanism of Tu Fu Ling in treating Alzheimer's disease (AD) using network pharmacology and molecular docking. MethodsThe TCMSP and Swiss target prediction databases were utilized to confirm the active components of Tu Fu Ling and their corresponding targets, with target gene names converted using the UniProt database. Genes related to AD were collected from DisGeNET, GeneCards, and the Open Target Platform databases. Common target genes between the disease and the drug were obtained using Venny 2.1 tools and visualized using Cytoscape software. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) data were further analyzed to determine correlations between common target genes, and GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses were performed for intersecting genes. Finally, PYmol, AutoDock Tool, Discovery Studio 2020, and PyRx software were used for preliminary computer virtual verification and visualization of active drug ingredients and target proteins. ResultsNine active ingredients meeting the screening criteria yielded a total of 168 genes after removing duplicates. A total of 3833 target genes were collected, with 129 overlapping target genes identified. GO enrichment analysis identified 643 biological processes, 82 cellular components, and 147 molecular functions. KEGG pathway enrichment analysis also revealed a pathway closely related to AD (hsa05010: Alzheimer's disease). In molecular docking analysis, the binding affinity between the 9 active ingredients and 10 core targets ranged from −3.5 to −12.3 kcal/mol, indicating strong binding. ConclusionThis study preliminarily verified the combination of Tu Fu Ling's screened active ingredient and the calculated core target, suggesting a potential mechanism of action to improve the symptoms of AD patients through multi-target and multi-pathway approaches. This provides a valuable reference for further exploration of the pharmacological mechanism of AD and the formulation of drug therapy.

Drug supply and assurance: a cross-sectional study of drug shortage monitoring varieties in China

BackgroundDrug shortage is a worldwide problem that seriously threatens public health. China released the most comprehensive list of key drug shortage monitoring varieties ever in 2022. We aim to analyze the attributes and characteristics of the medicines within the list to provide a reference for improving China’s supply security of shortage drugs.MethodsWe used public data to extract information on drug types, dosage forms, indications, classification of clinical uses, whether they were included in medical catalogs such as the National Essential Drugs, and the number of drug and active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) manufacturers. A descriptive statistical analysis was used.ResultsOf the 980 drugs on the list, 99.59% were chemicals and 92.65% were injectables. Drugs for blood and hematopoietic organs, the cardiovascular system, and the digestive tract and metabolism ranked among the top three shortages. Verification of the medical catalogs showed that 90.41% of the drugs belonged to the national essential drugs, 95.10% were medicare drugs, 2.55% were volume-based procurement drugs, and 14.70% were for rare diseases, and 42.04% were for children. In terms of drug supply capacity, 21.33% of drug approvals are less than 10, and there were even 26 drugs for exclusive production, close to 90% of manufacturers need to purchase APIs from outside. Among the 256 APIs included in the list, 152 APIs had less than 10 manufacturers, and there were even 5 APIs produced by only one enterprise nationwide.ConclusionsThe situation of drug shortages in China was severe and complex, with serious shortages of medicines adapted to basic medical and healthcare needs and clinically necessary medicines, and a need to improve the production capacity of drugs and the ability to supply APIs. We recommend strengthening drug monitoring and stockpiling and accelerating the approval of shortage drugs to improve drug supply security.

Exploring the possible therapeutic mechanism of Danzhixiaoyao pills in depression and MAFLD based on "Homotherapy for heteropathy": A network pharmacology and molecular docking

ObjectiveDanzhixiaoyao pills (DXP) is a traditional Chinese medicine formula that has been effectively used in clinical practice to treat depression and metabolic associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD), but its therapeutic mechanism is not yet clear. The purpose of this study is to explore the possible mechanisms of DXP in treating depression and MAFLD using network pharmacology and molecular docking techniques based on existing literature reports. MethodsBy combining TCMSP, Swiss ADME, Swiss TargetPrediction, and UniProt databases, the active ingredients and potential targets of DXP were screened and obtained. By searching for relevant disease targets through Gene Cards, OMIM, and TTD databases, intersection targets between drugs and diseases were obtained. The network of "Disease - Potential targets - Active ingredients - Traditional Chinese medicine - Prescriptions" was constructed using Cytoscape 3.9.1 software, and the PPI network was constructed using STRING 12.0 database. The core targets were obtained through topology analysis. GO function enrichment and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis were conducted based on DAVID. The above results were validated by molecular docking using PyMol 2.5 and AutoDock Tool 1.5.7 software, and their possible therapeutic mechanisms were discussed. ResultsNetwork pharmacology analysis obtained 130 main active ingredients of drugs, 173 intersection targets between drugs and diseases, and 37 core targets. Enrichment analysis obtained 1390 GO functional enrichment results, of which 922 were related to biological process, 107 were related to cellular component, 174 were related to molecular function, and obtained 180 KEGG pathways. Molecular docking has confirmed the good binding ability between relevant components and targets, and the literature discussion has preliminarily verified the above results. ConclusionDXP can act on targets such as TNF, AKT1, ALB, IL1B, TP53 through active ingredients such as kaempferol, quercetin, naringenin, isorhamnetin, glyuranolide, etc, and by regulating signaling pathways such as pathways in cancer, MAPK signaling pathway, lipid and atherosclerosis, to exert its effect of "homotherapy for heteropathy" on depression and MAFLD. In addition, glyuranolide showed the strongest affinity with TNF (−7.88 kcal/mol), suggesting that it may play a key role in the treatment process. The research results provide a theoretical basis for elucidating the scientific connotation and mechanism of action of traditional Chinese medicine compound DXP, and provide new directions for its clinical application.

Evaluation of the protective properties and genotoxic potential of pyrazolo pyridine derivatives against neutron and gamma radiation using the Ames/Salmonella test system

Purpose Nuclear applications are being increasingly used in various fields, necessitating studies to protect from radiation hazards and their effects. In this study, five different chemical structures of pyrazolo [3,4-b] pyridine derivatives were synthesized. The gamma and neutron radiation protective abilities of these samples were determined and demonstrated their potential use as ingredients in radioprotective drugs. Material and methods Gamma radiation absorption parameters were calculated both theoretical and experimental. Important attenuation parameters for fast neutrons (4.5 MeV energy radiation) were figured out using the Monte Carlo simulation Geant4 code. Additionally, experimental dose rates were measured for each sample and compared to those of Paraffin and high-density polyethylene, an organic substance. Besides, Ames/Salmonella test system was aimed to detecting genotoxicity features of pyrazolo pyridine derivatives. Results All results demonstrated that each sample possesses both gamma and neutron radiation attenuation capabilities. It was determined that sample PPC4 (C20H14BrN5) exhibited the highest gamma radiation attenuation capacity among all samples, while sample PPC2 (C22H20N6) displayed an excellent neutron stopping capacity. The genotoxic properties of pyrazolo[3,4-b] pyridine derivatives were examined using the Ames/Salmonella test, and as a result, it was determined that these substances did not exhibit genotoxic effects at test doses up to 5 mM. Conclusion All obtained results indicate that all PPC (pyrazolo[3,4-b] pyridine derivatives) samples do not possess a toxic effect, and they can be utilized as an active substance for the development of a drug or cream with protective properties against both gamma and neutron radiations.

Esteve to build drug ingredient plant

Esteve to build drug ingredient plant

Embedded monitoring system and teaching of artificial intelligence online drug component recognition.

Drug testing has many test elements. It aims to prevent unqualified drugs from entering the market and ensure drug safety. The existing artificial intelligence (AI) online monitoring system identifies active ingredients in the process of use. Owing to their openness, data are easy to be lost, failing to meet user needs and inducing a specific impact on the use of the monitoring system. With the continuous development of computer and measurement technologies, various biochemical data are increasing at an unprecedented speed, and numerous databases are emerging. Extracting patterns from considerable known data and experimental facts is an essential task for a wide range of biological and chemical workers. Pattern recognition is one of the essential technologies for data mining. It is widely used in industry, agriculture, national defense, biomedicine, meteorology, astronomy, and other fields. To improve the effect of the online drug ingredient recognition system, this study used AI to design an online drug ingredient recognition-embedded monitoring system and applied AI to the teaching field to improve teaching efficiency. First, this study constructed the framework of the AI online drug ingredient recognition-embedded monitoring system and introduced the process of online drug ingredient recognition. Then, it introduced the pattern recognition method, constructed the pattern recognition system, and presented the pattern recognition algorithm and the algorithm evaluation index. Afterward, it used pattern recognition to conduct a qualitative analysis of the infrared spectrum of drug components and introduced the overall process of the qualitative analysis. In addition, this study employed AI to implement changes to the embedded system instruction in colleges and universities, summarizing the current issues. The impact of drug component recognition and the educational impact of embedded systems were investigated in the experimental portion. The experimental findings demonstrated the excellent accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, and Matthew correlation coefficient of the online drug component recognition-integrated monitoring system in this work. Compared with that of other systems, its average drug component recognition accuracy was above 0.85. Students in five majors reported high levels of satisfaction with the embedded system teaching, which is better for delivering college instruction.

Plant Sources of Formulated Homoeopathic Drugs

A survey was conducted in the homoeopathic pharmacies in Chennai to study the plant sources of formulated homoeopathic drugs that are common and popularly sold in commercial outlets. This study deals with 127 homoeopathic medicinal plants that are used in various formulated preparations such as cosmetics, drops, oils, ointments, powders, tablets and tonics. Medicinal plants that are exclusively used as mother tinctures diluted and prescribed by homoeopathic practitioners for treatment are excluded. Many practitioners of homoeopathic system prescribe formulated drugs manufactured by the pharmaceutical companies that specialize in homoeopathic drugs. Another survey was conducted to explore the most frequent prescriptions given by the homoeopathic practitioners in Tamil Nadu. Plant sources of these prescriptions are studied. It is found that 34 of these plant sources are commonly used as ingredients in many formulated drugs sold in the commercial outlets.

Benchtop NMR Coupled with Chemometrics: A Workflow for Unveiling Hidden Drug Ingredients in Honey-Based Supplements.

Recently, benchtop nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrometers utilizing permanent magnets have emerged as versatile tools with applications across various fields, including food and pharmaceuticals. Their efficacy is further enhanced when coupled with chemometric methods. This study presents an innovative approach to leveraging a compact benchtop NMR spectrometer coupled with chemometrics for screening honey-based food supplements adulterated with active pharmaceutical ingredients. Initially, fifty samples seized by French customs were analyzed using a 60 MHz benchtop spectrometer. The investigation unveiled the presence of tadalafil in 37 samples, sildenafil in 5 samples, and a combination of flibanserin with tadalafil in 1 sample. After conducting comprehensive qualitative and quantitative characterization of the samples, we propose a chemometric workflow to provide an efficient screening of honey samples using the NMR dataset. This pipeline, utilizing partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) models, enables the classification of samples as either adulterated or non-adulterated, as well as the identification of the presence of tadalafil or sildenafil. Additionally, PLS regression models are employed to predict the quantitative content of these adulterants. Through blind analysis, this workflow allows for the detection and quantification of adulterants in these honey supplements.

Use of bailing capsules (cordyceps sinensis) in the treatment of chronic kidney disease: a meta-analysis and network pharmacology.

The Bailing Capsule is a commonly used traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, its therapeutic effects and pharmacological mechanisms have not been fully explored. In this study, we integrated meta-analysis and network pharmacology to provide scientific evidence for the efficacy and pharmacological mechanism of Bailing Capsule in treating CKD. We conducted searches for randomized controlled studies matching the topic in PubMed, the Cochrane Library, Embase, Web of Science, and the Wanfang Database, and screened them according to predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Dates from the included studies were extracted for meta-analysis, including renal function indicators, such as 24-h urinary protein (24UP), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and serum creatinine (Scr), as well as inflammatory indicators like high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α). Network pharmacology was employed to extract biological information, including active drug ingredients and potential targets of the drugs and diseases, for network construction and gene enrichment. Our findings indicated that 24UP, BUN, and Scr in the treatment group containing Bailing Capsule were lower than those in the control group. In terms of inflammatory indicators, hs-CRP, IL-6, and TNF-α, the treatment group containing Bailing Capsule also exhibited lower levels than the control group. Based on network pharmacology analysis, we identified 190 common targets of Bailing Capsule and CKD. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses suggested that the pharmacological mechanism of Bailing Capsule might be related to immune response, inflammatory response, vascular endothelial damage, cell proliferation, and fibrosis. This demonstrates that Bailing Capsule can exert therapeutic effects through multiple targets and pathways, providing a theoretical basis for its use.

Antihyperlipidemic and antioxidant potential of Olea europaea L. leaves: An experimental study in vivo, in vitro and in silico

Hyperlipidemia is an enduring metabolic ailment that affects glucose and lipid processing.&#x0D; The research objective was to measure the total phenolic, flavonoid, and tannin contents in Olea europaea L. leaves and to to identify their antioxidant and antihyperlipidemic potential. The study included an in silico model of interaction for hydroxytyrosol, oleuropein, and xanthine dehydrogenase. The in vivo experiment involved rabbits that received olive leaves (150 mg/kg) and 10 mL of egg yolk as a high-fat diet. At the end of the experimental period, blood samples were tested for lipid profile, and tissue specimens were used for liver histology. &#x0D; The total phenolic content was 119.84 ± 3.86 mg GAE/g, the total flavonoid content was 2.22 ± 0.07 mg CE/g, and the total tannin content was 21.25 ± 1.24 mg REQ/g dry weight. According to DPPH and FRAP analyses, the antioxidant capacities were 0.34 ± 0.06 μg/mL and 6.35 ± 0.52 μmol Fe(II)/g dry weight, respectively. In the experimental animals, O. europaea leaves reduced such parameters as total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, total triglycerides, total cholesterol vs. high-density lipoprotein, and low-density lipoprotein vs. high-density lipoprotein. The histopathological liver assay showed no signs of tissue damage while the samples obtained from the control group demonstrated steatosis deposits and cellular necrosis. Based on the energy and RMSD results, hydroxytyrosol proved an effective xanthine dehydrogenase inhibition.&#x0D; These findings constitute a good scientific basis for the complementary future research on the potential of O. europaea leaves as ingredients of functional foods or medical drugs.