背景:Cinnamomumtamala(Buch。-火腿.)T.Nees和Eberm。,也被称为印度海湾叶,由于其抗炎特性,在补充和替代药物系统中具有独特的地位。然而,C.tamala精油(CTEO)发挥其抗炎作用的活性成分和关键分子靶标尚不清楚。
目的:本研究通过网络药理学和实验验证,探讨CTEO治疗炎症的作用机制。
方法:采用GC-MS分析鉴定CTEO的成分。通过网络药理学获得了CTEO抗炎症的关键成分和核心靶点。通过分子对接和分子动力学模拟分析确定了活性化合物与炎症基因之间的结合机制。在脂多糖刺激的鼠巨噬细胞(RAW264.7)细胞系中验证了网络药理学预测的药理机制。
结果:通过GC-MS分析鉴定了49种成分,有44种成分是类似药物的候选药物。共获得549个化合物和213个炎症相关基因,揭示了它们之间的68个重叠基因。化合物目标网络分析显示,肉桂醛是核心生物活性化合物,得分最高。PPI网络分析显示IL-1β,TNF-α,IL8、IL6和TLR4是关键的枢纽抗炎靶点。KEGG富集分析显示Toll样受体信号传导途径是与炎症相关的主要调节途径。分子对接研究表明,肉桂醛与IL-1β强烈相互作用,TNF-α和TLR-4蛋白。分子动力学模拟和MMPBSA分析表明,这些配合物稳定,没有太大的偏差,并且具有更好的自由能值。在细胞实验中,CTEO对RAW264.7鼠巨噬细胞无细胞毒性作用。用LPS处理的细胞表现出NO的显著减少,PGE2,IL-6,TNF-α,和用CTEO治疗后的IL-1β水平。此外,CTEO处理降低了ROS水平并增加了抗氧化酶如SOD,GSH,GPx和CAT。免疫荧光分析表明,CTEO抑制LPS刺激的NF-κB核易位。与LPS处理组相比,CTEO组TLR4,MyD88和TRAF6的mRNA表达显着降低。
结论:目前的研究结果表明,CTEO通过调节TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB信号通路减轻炎症。
BACKGROUND: Cinnamomum tamala (Buch.-Ham.) T.Nees & Eberm., also known as Indian Bay leaf, holds a distinctive position in complementary and alternative medicinal systems due to its anti-inflammatory properties. However, the active constituents and key molecular targets by which C. tamala essential oil (CTEO) exerts its anti-inflammatory action remain unclear.
OBJECTIVE: The present study used network pharmacology and experimental validation to investigate the mechanism of CTEO in the treatment of inflammation.
METHODS: GC-MS analysis was used to identify the constituents of CTEO. The key constituents and core targets of CTEO against inflammation were obtained by network pharmacology. The binding mechanism between the active compounds and inflammatory genes was ascertained by molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation analysis. The pharmacological mechanism predicted by network pharmacology was verified in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated murine macrophage (RAW 264.7) cell lines.
RESULTS: Forty-nine constituents were identified by GC-MS analysis, with 44 constituents being drug-like candidates. A total of 549 compounds and 213 inflammation-related genes were obtained, revealing 68 overlapping genes between them. Compound target network analysis revealed cinnamaldehyde as the core bioactive compound with the highest degree score. PPI network analysis demonstrated Il-1β, TNF-α, IL8, IL6 and TLR4 as key hub anti-inflammatory targets. KEGG enrichment analysis revealed a Toll-like receptor signalling pathway as the principally regulated pathway associated with inflammation. A molecular docking study showed that cinnamaldehyde strongly interacted with the Il-1β, TNF-α and TLR-4 proteins. Molecular dynamics simulations and MMPBSA analysis revealed that these complexes are stable without much deviation and have better free energy values. In cellular experiments, CTEO showed no cytotoxic effects on RAW 264.7 murine macrophages. The cells treated with LPS exhibited significant reductions in NO, PGE2, IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-1β levels following treatment with CTEO. Additionally, CTEO treatment reduced the ROS levels and increased the antioxidant enzymes such as SOD, GSH, GPx and CAT. Immunofluorescence analysis revealed that CTEO inhibited LPS-stimulated NF-κB nuclear translocation. The mRNA expression of TLR4, MyD88 and TRAF6 in the CTEO group decreased significantly compared to the LPS-treated group.
CONCLUSIONS: The current findings suggest that CTEO attenuates inflammation by regulating TLR4/MyD88/NF- κB signalling pathway.