Elucidation of the inhibitory effects of Jiedu Yizhi formula on neuronal apoptosis in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease based on network pharmacology and in vivo experiments

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the mechanism of action of Jiedu Yizhi formula (JDYZF) in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD) through network pharmacology, molecular docking technology, and in vivo experiments.

Method: The main active ingredients of seven herbs in the Chinese Medicine compound JDYZF were identified by searching the TCMSP database, PubChem database, CNKI, and other sources. Disease targets of AD were obtained from databases such as OMIM, TDD, DisGeNET, and DrugBank. A protein‒protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed using the STRING platform, and core targets were identified through topological analysis using Cytoscape software. Gene Ontology (GO) functional analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis of the relevant targets were performed using the Metascape database. The main active ingredients of JDYZF and potential core targets were identified based on degree values. Molecular docking technology was used to verify the interactions between the main active ingredients and potential core targets. Furthermore, water maze tests and hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining of brain and liver tissues were performed to evaluate the effects of JDYZF on cognitive dysfunction in AD mice and neuronal damage in hippocampal brain tissue and to assess drug toxicity. PCR was performed to determine the expression levels of the apoptosis-related genes Bcl-2, Bax, and caspase-3 and to investigate the effect of JDYZF on hippocampal apoptosis in AD mice. Results. One hundred twelve core PPI target proteins, including CASP3, TP53, and VEGFA, were found between JDYZF and AD. The KEGG pathway enrichment analysis showed significant enrichment of the MAPK signaling pathway, PI3K/AKT signaling pathway and so on. Water maze tests revealed that the high-dose JDYZF treatment significantly improved the escape latency of AD model mice. The HE staining results showed that JDYZF exerted a protective effect on neuronal damage in the hippocampus of AD mice. JDYZF could upregulate the expression of the anti-apoptotic factor Bcl-2 while downregulating the expression of the proapoptotic factors Bax and caspase-3. Conclusion. JDYZF can improve the cognitive function of AD mice by suppressing cell apoptosis.

Keywords: Alzheimer’s Disease (AD); Apoptosis; Jiedu Yizhi Formula; Molecular Docking Technology; Network Pharmacology.