Systematically Characterize the Anti-Alzheimer’s Disease Mechanism of Lignans from <i>S. chinensis</i> Based on In-Vivo Ingredient Analysis and Target-Network Pharmacology Strategy by UHPLC–Q-TOF-MS
Mengying Wei,
Yuanyuan Liu,
Zifeng Pi,
Shizhe Li,
Mingxin Hu,
Yang He,
Kexin Yue,
Tianshu Liu,
Zhiqiang Liu,
Fengrui Song,
Zhongying Liu
Affiliations
Mengying Wei
Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Jilin University, 1266 Fujin Road, Changchun 130021, China
Yuanyuan Liu
Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Jilin University, 1266 Fujin Road, Changchun 130021, China
Zifeng Pi
National Center for Mass Spectrometry in Changchun, Jilin Province Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Chemistry and Mass Spectrometry, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130022, China
Shizhe Li
Institute of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
Mingxin Hu
Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Jilin University, 1266 Fujin Road, Changchun 130021, China
Yang He
Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, School of Pharmacy and Food Science, Zhuhai College of Jilin University, 8 Anji East Road, Zhuhai 519041, China
Kexin Yue
Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Jilin University, 1266 Fujin Road, Changchun 130021, China
Tianshu Liu
Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Jilin University, 1266 Fujin Road, Changchun 130021, China
Zhiqiang Liu
National Center for Mass Spectrometry in Changchun, Jilin Province Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Chemistry and Mass Spectrometry, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130022, China
Fengrui Song
National Center for Mass Spectrometry in Changchun, Jilin Province Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Chemistry and Mass Spectrometry, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130022, China
Zhongying Liu
Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Jilin University, 1266 Fujin Road, Changchun 130021, China
Lignans from Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill can ameliorate cognitive impairment in animals with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). However, the metabolism of absorbed ingredients and the potential targets of the lignans from S. chinensis in animals with AD have not been systematically investigated. Therefore, for the first time, we performed an in-vivo ingredient analysis and implemented a target-network pharmacology strategy to assess the effects of lignans from S. chinensis in rats with AD. Ten absorbed prototype constituents and 39 metabolites were identified or tentatively characterized in the plasma of dosed rats with AD using ultra high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Based on the results of analysis of the effective constituents in vivo, the potential therapeutic mechanism of the effective constituents in the rats with AD was investigated using a target-network pharmacology approach and independent experimental validation. The results showed that the treatment effects of lignans from S. chinensis on cognitive impairment might involve the regulation of amyloid precursor protein metabolism, neurofibrillary tangles, neurotransmitter metabolism, inflammatory response, and antioxidant system. Overall, we identified the effective components of lignans in S. chinensis that can improve the cognitive impairment induced by AD and proposed potential therapeutic metabolic pathways. The results might serve as the basis for a fundamental strategy to explore effective therapeutic drugs to treat AD.
