A network pharmacology-based study on the anti-hepatoma effect of Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae

Chinese Medicine

Gan-Qing He¹  Mohammed M. Almutairi²  Si-Ying Li²  Hong-Lian Shi²  Yu Feng³  Lei Song⁴  Yi Luo⁴  Yu-Jie Huang⁴  Sha-Sha Bai⁴  Qi Wang⁴  Ming Hong⁴  Sha Li⁵ 

[1] Department of Gastroenterology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University;Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, University of Kansas;Department of Traumatology, General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University;Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine;School of Chinese Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong;

关键词: Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae;    Hepatocellular carcinoma;    Network pharmacology;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s13020-019-0249-6

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Abstract Background Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae (RSM), a well-known traditional Chinese medicine, has been shown to inhibit tumorigenesis in various human cancers. However, the anticancer effects of RSM on human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and the underlying mechanisms of action remain to be fully elucidated. Methods In this study, we aimed to elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms of RSM in the treatment of HCC using a network pharmacology approach. In vivo and in vitro experiments were also performed to validate the therapeutic effects of RSM on HCC. Results In total, 62 active compounds from RSM and 72 HCC-related targets were identified through network pharmacological analysis. RSM was found to play a critical role in HCC via multiple targets and pathways, especially the EGFR and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways. In addition, RSM was found to suppress HCC cell proliferation, and impair cancer cell migration and invasion in vitro. Flow cytometry analysis revealed that RSM induced cell cycle G2/M arrest and apoptosis, and western blot analysis showed that RSM up-regulated the expression of BAX and down-regulated the expression of Bcl-2 in MHCC97-H and HepG2 cells. Furthermore, RSM administration down-regulated the expression of EGFR, PI3K, and p-AKT proteins, whereas the total AKT level was not altered. Finally, the results of our in vivo experiments confirmed the therapeutic effects of RSM on HCC in nude mice. Conclusions We provide an integrative network pharmacology approach, in combination with in vitro and in vivo experiments, to illustrate the underlying therapeutic mechanisms of RSM action on HCC.

【 授权许可】

Unknown