An integrated approach for investigating pharmacodynamic material basis of Lingguizhugan Decoction in the treatment of heart failure

Abstract

Ethnopharmacological relevance: As a classical formula of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), Lingguizhugan Decoction (LGZGD) has been used for treating heart failure (HF) because it has an efficiency of yang-warming and fluid-dispersing. However, the pharmacodynamic material basis of LGZGD responsible for the therapeutic benefits is not well understood.

Aim of the study: The aim of this study was to elucidate the pharmacodynamic material basis of LGZGD by an integrated approach.

Materials and methods: Following oral administration of LGZGD in mice, ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS) was used to identify prototype substances. A heart failure (HF) model was established, followed by an untargeted metabolomics study to determine potential targets of LGZGD. The network pharmacology method was performed to screen substances that interacted with potential targets of LGZGD treating HF. Molecular docking technology was applied to further screen substances based on binding energy. Cell viability assays were conducted to verify pharmacodynamic effects of selected substances.

Results: In all, forty-two prototype substances were identified in the blood, urine, and fecal samples of mice. A total of fifty-five differential metabolites were identified using heart tissue untargeted metabolomics. Twenty-five substances of LGZGD were screened relating to thirty-three targets treating HF. Twenty-two substances were filtered according to their binding energy using molecular docking technology. Cell experiments revealed cinnamaldehyde, glycyrrhetinic acid, kaempferol, daidzein, caffeic acid, and catechin could significantly improve the survival rate of H9c2 cells, which might be the pharmacodynamic material basis of LGZGD.

Conclusions: A scientific approach that integrated in vivo substances identification, metabolomics, network pharmacology, molecular docking, and cell pharmacodynamic assay has been developed to study the pharmacodynamic material basis of LGZGD in the treatment of HF.

Keywords: Heart failure; Lingguizhugan decoction; Metabolomics; Pharmacodynamic material basis; Traditional Chinese medicine.