Effect and mechanism of Jinkui Shenqi Pill on preventing neural tube defects in mice based on network pharmacology.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: jinkui Shenqi Pill (JSP) is a classic traditional Chinese medicine used to treat "Kidney Yang Deficiency" disease. Previous studies indicate a protective effect of JSP on apoptosis in mouse neurons.

Aim Of The Study: This research, combining network pharmacology with in vivo experiments, explores the mechanism of JSP in preventing neural tube defects (NTDs) in mice.

Wuzi Yanzong Pill protects neural tube defects by activating PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.

Neural tube defects (NTDs) are severe congenital malformations that can lead to lifelong disability. Wuzi Yanzong Pill (WYP) is an herbal formula of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) that has been shown to have a protective effect against NTDs in a rodent model induced by all-trans retinoic acid (atRA), but the mechanism remains unclear. In this study, the neuroprotective effect and mechanism of WYP on NTDs were investigated in vivo using an atRA-induced mouse model and in vitro using cell injury model induced by atRA in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells and Chinese hamster dihydrofolate reductase-deficient (CHO/dhFr) cells.

An optimal combination of five main monomer components in Wuzi Yanzong Pill that prevents neural tube defects and reduces apoptosis and oxidative stress.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Wuzi Yanzong Pill (WYP) is a classic traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula that is used for reproductive system diseases. Previous studies showed that WYP had a preventive effect on the development of neural tube defects (NTDs) induced by all-trans retinoic acid (atRA) in mice.

Aim Of The Study: This study aimed to determine the optimal combination of main monomer components in WYP on preventing NTDs and to understand the underlying mechanism.