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Introduction Qishenbuqi capsule (QSBQC), a listed Chinese patent prescription, comprises of 4 herbs. Clinically, it has been shown to improve immune functions. Methods Subjects with Qi deficiency and non- Qi deficiency were recruited, who then took QSBQC for 4 weeks. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome scores and the levels of white blood cells, CD3+ T cells (CD3+), CD4+ T cells (CD3+CD4+), CD8+ T cells (CD3+CD8+), and CD4+/CD8+ were determined. Serum metabolomics was used to explore the metabolic mechanisms of QSBQC on improving immunity. Meanwhile, the potential active ingredients, targets, and pathways of QSBQC on enhancing immunity were screened by network pharmacology. Results QSBQC significantly improved TCM syndrome scores and increased the number of CD8+ T cells of both Qi deficiency and non- Qi deficiency subjects. Serum metabolomics revealed that QSBQC regulated 18 differential metabolites and 8 metabolic pathways of Qi deficiency, and 12 differential metabolites and 7 metabolic pathways of non- Qi deficiency subjects. The "herbs-compounds-pathways" diagram showed that PQ-2, cimifugin, and divaricatol were the main active components. Pathways in cancer and arginine and proline metabolism could be the most important pathways. Conclusion Our research revealed the immunoenhancing mechanisms of QSBQC and improved the combination of TCM theory and modern western medicine theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Guilingji (GLJ), a traditional Chinese medicine, is of wide concern because of its remarkable antiaging effect with a long application history. It mainly consists of traditional Chinese herbs, that is, Ginseng radix et rhizoma rubra. This study focused on the anti-aging effects of GLJ on natural aging rats and its underlying mechanisms. Morris water maze was used to determine the learning and memory ability of rats. The levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), malondialdehyde (MDA), acetylcholine (ACh), and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in serum were determined. Furthermore, a 1H-NMR-based serum metabolomics coupled with multivariate data analysis was used to identify potential biomarkers and corresponding metabolic pathways. The results showed that GLJ significantly improved the learning and memorial dysfunctions of natural aging rats. The mechanisms of the anti-aging and memory ameliorative effects of GLJ related to balancing oxidative stress, improving cholinergic system. Its specific mechanism of action may be through regulating pyruvate metabolism and arginine and proline metabolism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Both XYS and its efficacy groups of SG and JP showed antidepressant effects. • The two effective groups of XYS can regulate the hepatic metabolic disorder of CUMS rats. • The two effective groups of XYS play an antidepressant effect synergistically. • TCM compatibility theory combined with modern synergistic theory provides a research method. This study aimed to demonstrate the scientific connotations and compatibility effects of Xiaoyaosan (XYS) based on the theory of " Treating Diseases via Regulating the Liver's Function " by hepatic metabolomics. XYS was divided into two efficacy groups, i.e. the Shugan (SG) and the Jianpi (JP) groups, according to the strategy of "Efficacy Compositions". The chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) depression model was constructed. A 1H NMR-based hepatic metabolomics approach coupled with multivariate data (MVD) analysis was performed. Meanwhile, relative distance (RD) and Efficacy Index (EI) were calculated. XYS and its efficacy groups significantly reversed the abnormality of behavior and hepatic metabolomics of depression rats, but to different degrees. The results of ethology and metabolomics showed the same order, i.e. XYS > JP > SG. Two metabolites, i.e. tyrosine and malate, were regulated by all the treatment groups. Four metabolites were significantly regulated only by XYS group. Of note, the results showed the two efficacy groups of XYS exhibited synergistic anti-depression effects, and glutamate, malate and taurine could be the key hepatic metabolites for these synergistic effects. The current study not only complements and consummates the mechanisms of depression and the anti-depression effects of XYS from the perspective of hepatic metabolomics, but also lays a solid foundation for comprehensively and deeply understanding the compatibility effects of XYS against depression, especially from the points of view of compatibility in Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) theory and synergism in modern medicine theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Both network pharmacology and metabolomics were applied. • The compatibility of traditional Chinese medicine prescriptions was demonstrated. • Xiaoyaosan was divided into two efficacy groups, the Shugan and the Jianpi groups. • The scientific connotations of Xiaoyaosan's compatibility on depression were revealed. • The compatibility rationality of Xiaoyaosan is proved and confirmed via multi-aspects. Compatibility investigations are vital but also the most difficult aspect of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) prescriptions. Previous researches have demonstrated that Xiaoyaosan (XYS) is an effective treatment for depression. However, the compatibility rules of XYS and the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Herein, we combined network pharmacology and serum metabolomics to investigate the scientific connotations and the compatibility effects of XYS. First, the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology (TCMSP) and the GeneCards databases were applied to identify the chemical components and the putative targets of XYS, and its efficacy groups. We then analyzed the herb-component-target pathways and constructed PPI networks. Potential pathways were determined by gene ontology (GO) and pathway enrichment analyses. Additionally, a chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) model was applied on rats. A proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry (1H NMR) based serum metabolomics was then used to identify potential metabolites and the corresponding pathways that were involved in depression and the potential anti-depression effects of XYS and its efficacy groups. A total of 121 components of XYS and 111 targets were associated with depression. Additionally, we screened 105 targets of 24 components in Shugan (SG) group and 106 targets of 95 components in Jianpi (JP) group. 13 targets were common to all three groups. Protein-protein interaction network analysis showed that Caspase-3 and Nitric oxide synthase-3 were nodes that overlapped with proteins known to be associated with depression. Pathway enrichment analysis further indicated that the putative targets of XYS and its efficacy groups mostly participated in pathways associated with cancer. Also, XYS and its efficacy groups significantly reversed abnormalities of serum metabolites and metabolic pathways, but to different degrees. Overall, different efficacy groups of XYS exhibit synergistic anti-depression effects and contribute to the whole prescription against depression. This study shows that the combination of network pharmacology and metabolomics is an effective approach to demonstrate scientific connotations and compatibility of TCMs from a holistic perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Guilingji (GLJ), a famous and classical traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) prescription, has been used to extend the lifespan and improve the life qualities of the elderly for hundreds of years in China. Aim of the study : We aimed to explore the protective effects of GLJ on the testicular dysfunction of aging rats, as well as the regulating effects of GLJ on the metabolic disturbance and metabolite changes in natural aging rats. Forty 23-month-old rats were divided randomly into four groups, including the old control group and three groups of GLJ treatment at 37.5, 75, and 150 mg/kg doses, respectively. Additionally, 10 four-month rats were included as the youth control group. Testicular dysfunction was first evaluated by measuring the changes in the wet weights of the testicles, concentration of serum testosterone (T), and morphologic changes of the testis. Subsequently, an 1H NMR-based metabolomics approach coupled with multivariate analysis, including partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) and orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) was applied to monitor the metabolite changes. Compared with the old control group, the wet weights of the testicles and T concentration were significantly increased, while the morphologic abnormality of testicular tissues was improved by a 4-week treatment course with GLJ. Furthermore, compared with the old control group, the urinary levels of alanine, pantothenate, phenylalanine, β-hydroxybutyrate and pyruvate were significantly decreased after a 4-week treatment course with GLJ. Additionally, we found that amino acid metabolism and pyruvate metabolism were significantly involved in the regulatory effect of GLJ. The current findings provided, for the first time, sound evidence of the protective effects of GLJ on testicular dysfunction from both biochemical and metabolomics perspectives. The mechanisms of GLJ could be related to regulating amino acid metabolism and pyruvate metabolism. The current study lays an important foundation for further research and for the broad clinical application of GLJ. Image 1 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]