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. 2023 Jan 31:2023:9030015.
doi: 10.1155/2023/9030015. eCollection 2023.

A Novel Strategy for Screening Active Components in Cistanche tubulosa Based on Spectrum-Effect Relationship Analysis and Network Pharmacology

Xiao-Tong Liu  1 , Dong-Mei Sun  2 , Wen-Xin Yu  1 , Wei-Xiong Lin  2 , Liao-Yuan Liu  2 , Yu Zeng  1
Affiliations

A Novel Strategy for Screening Active Components in Cistanche tubulosa Based on Spectrum-Effect Relationship Analysis and Network Pharmacology

Xiao-Tong Liu et al. J Anal Methods Chem. .

Abstract

Cistanche tubulosa (Schenk) R. Wight is a valuable herbal medicine in China. The study aimed to explore the potential mechanisms of C. tubulosa on antioxidant activity using spectrum-effect relationship and network pharmacology and the possibilities of utilizing herbal dregs. In this work, different extracts of C. tubulosa, including herbal materials, water extracts, and herbal residues, were evaluated using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) technology. In addition, the antioxidant activities were estimated in vitro, including 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl; superoxide anion; and hydroxyl radical scavenging assays. The spectrum-effect relationships between the HPLC fingerprints and the biological capabilities were analyzed via partial least squares regression, bivariate correlation analysis, and redundancy analysis. Furthermore, network pharmacology was used to predict potential mechanisms of C. tubulosa in the treatment of antioxidant-related diseases. According to the results, eleven common peaks were shared by different extracts. Geniposidic acid, echinacoside, verbascoside, tubuloside A, and isoacteoside were quantified and compared among different forms of C. tubulosa. The spectrum-effect relationship study indicated that peak A 6 might be the most decisive component among the three forms. Based on network pharmacology, there were 159 target genes shared by active components and antioxidant-related diseases. Targets related to antioxidant activity and relevant pathways were discussed. Our results provide a theoretical basis for recycling the herbal residues and the potential mechanisms of C. tubulosa in the treatment of antioxidant-related diseases.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The procedure of processing raw materials of C. tubulosa into different forms.
Figure 2
Figure 2
HPLC fingerprints of standard samples.
Figure 3
Figure 3
HPLC fingerprints of 11 batches of C. tubulosa samples.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Content determination of five components from different forms (n = 11). ∗p < 0.05, ∗∗∗p < 0.001, ns: not significant.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Column chart of IC50 of different forms for 11 batches of C. tubulosa samples.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Heatmap diagrams: (a) PLSR model. (b) BCA model.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Venn diagrams of PLSR and BCA model: (a) DPPH assay. (b) O2•− scavenging assay. (c) OH• scavenging assay were analyzed by the PLSR model. (d) DPPH assay. (e) O2•− scavenging assay. (f) OH• scavenging assay were analyzed by the BCA model. The overlapping section was the common peaks shard by HM, WE, and HR.
Figure 8
Figure 8
RDA between antioxidant ability and peaks: (a) HM of C. tubulosa. (b) WE of C. tubulosa. (c) HR of C. tubulosa. The intersection angle represents the relevance between the scavenging ability of the free radicals and the peak. The smaller the angle is, the more relevance there is with the peak of the antioxidant.
Figure 9
Figure 9
C-T network. The network showed the correlation between active components and the key gene targets.
Figure 10
Figure 10
PPI network.
Figure 11
Figure 11
The key targets were screened out according to DC, CC, and BC.
Figure 12
Figure 12
Enrichment analysis: (a) GO enrichment analysis. (b) KEGG enrichment analysis.
Figure 13
Figure 13
C-T-P network.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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