Evaluating current status of network pharmacology for herbal medicine focusing on identifying mechanisms and therapeutic effects.

Introduction: Network pharmacology has gained significant traction as a tool for identifying the mechanisms and therapeutic effects of herbal medicines. However, despite the usefulness of these approaches, their diversity underscores the critical need for a systematic evaluation to ensure consistency and reliability.

Objectives: We aimed to evaluate the network pharmacological analyses, focusing on identifying the mechanisms and therapeutic effects of herbal medicines.

Protective Effects of Red Ginseng Against Tacrine-Induced Hepatotoxicity: An Integrated Approach with Network Pharmacology and Experimental Validation.

Introduction: Tacrine, an FDA-approved acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, has shown efficacy in treating Alzheimer's disease, but its clinical use is limited by hepatotoxicity. This study investigates the protective effects of red ginseng against tacrine-induced hepatotoxicity, focusing on oxidative stress.

Methods: A network depicting the interaction between compounds and targets was constructed for RG.

Antioxidant Efficacy of Hwangryunhaedok-tang through Nrf2 and AMPK Signaling Pathway against Neurological Disorders In Vivo and In Vitro.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a representative cause of dementia and is caused by neuronal loss, leading to the accumulation of aberrant neuritic plaques and the formation of neurofibrillary tangles. Oxidative stress is involved in the impaired clearance of amyloid beta (Aβ), and Aβ-induced oxidative stress causes AD by inducing the formation of neurofibrillary tangles. Hwangryunhaedok-tang (HHT, Kracie K-09), a traditional herbal medicine prescription, has shown therapeutic effects on various diseases.

Forsythiaside A Activates AMP-Activated Protein Kinase and Regulates Oxidative Stress via Nrf2 Signaling.

Forsythiaside A (FA) is an active constituent isolated from , a beneficial herb used in traditional medicine known for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Although various studies have suggested that FA has the protective effects, its impacts on arachidonic acid (AA) plus iron in vitro models and carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄)-induced mouse liver damage in vivo have not been explored. In this study, HepG2 cells were subjected to AA + iron treatment to induce apoptosis and mitochondrial impairment and determine the molecular mechanisms.

Kaempferol stimulation of autophagy regulates the ferroptosis under the oxidative stress as mediated with AMP-activated protein kinase.

Recent studies have highlighted the positive effects of Kaempferol (KP), including its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. However, its impact on oxidative damage induced by heavy metals and pro-inflammatory mediators, such as arachidonic acid (AA), has not yet been identified. Our objective was to specifically evaluate liver damage due to AA + iron-induced oxidative stress, both in vitro and in vivo.

Systemic and molecular analysis dissect the red ginseng induction of apoptosis and autophagy in HCC as mediated with AMPK.

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has a high incidence and is one of the highest mortality cancers when advanced stage is proceeded. However, Anti-cancer drugs available for treatment are limited and new anti-cancer drugs and new ways to treat them are minimal. We examined that the effects and possibility of Red Ginseng (RG, Panax ginseng Meyer) as new anti-cancer drug on HCC by combining network pharmacology and molecular biology.

Unraveling the Antioxidant Capacity of in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Multiscale Network Approach Integrated with Experimental Validation.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a global health problem that is closely associated with obesity and metabolic syndrome. (SC) is a herbal medicine with potential hepatoprotective effects; however, its active compounds and underlying mechanisms have not been fully explored. In this study, we combined a multiscale network-level approach with experimental validation to investigate SC's antioxidant properties and their impact on NAFLD.

Integrative approach to uncover antioxidant properties of Bupleuri Radix and its active compounds: Multiscale interactome-level analysis with experimental validation.

Acute and chronic liver disease are global problems with high morbidity and mortality. Bupleuri Radix (BR) is an herbal medicine that has been prescribed empirically in traditional Asian medicine to modulate liver metabolism. However, its active compounds and therapeutic mechanisms remain unclear.

Coordination of AMPK and YAP by and Procyanidin B2 Provides Antioxidant Effects In Vitro and In Vivo.

The liver is vulnerable to oxidative attacks from heavy metals, such as iron, as well as some drugs, including acetaminophen. It has been shown that enhanced oxidative stress in the liver leads to excessive ROS production and mitochondrial dysfunction, resulting in organ injury. The beneficial effects of (SC), a natural herbal medicine, include treating ischemic stroke, inhibiting tumor cell invasion, pro-angiogenic activities, and anti-inflammatory properties.

NAKAI and Its Active Compound, Decursin, Inhibit Cellular Injury as an Antioxidant by the Regulation of AMP-Activated Protein Kinase and YAP Signaling.

Natural products and medicinal herbs have been used to treat various human diseases by regulating cellular functions and metabolic pathways. NAKAI (AG) helps regulate pathological processes in some medical fields, including gastroenterology, gynecology, and neuropsychiatry. Although some papers have reported its diverse indications, the effects of AG against arachidonic acid (AA)+ iron and carbon tetrachloride (CCl) have not been reported.

A Critical YAP in Malignancy of HCC Is Regulated by Evodiamine.

Liver cancer has relatively few early symptoms and is usually diagnosed in the advanced stage. Sorafenib is the only first-line anticancer drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for advanced HCC; however, its use is limited due to resistance. Therefore, the development of new drugs is essential to achieving customized treatment.

Improved STR analysis of degraded DNA from human skeletal remains through in-house MPS-STR panel.

DNA analysis of degraded samples and low-copy number DNA derived from skeletal remains, one of the most challenging forensic tasks, is common in disaster victim identification and genetic analysis of historical materials. Massively parallel sequencing (MPS) is a useful technique for STR analysis that enables the sequencing of smaller amplicons compared with conventional capillary electrophoresis (CE), which is valuable for the analysis of degraded DNA. In this study, 92 samples of human skeletal remains (70+ years postmortem) were tested using an in-house MPS-STR system designed for the analysis of degraded DNA.

Genomic profiling of the residual disease of advanced high-grade serous ovarian cancer after neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

The goal of our study was to demonstrate the spectrum of genomic alterations present in the residual disease of patients with advanced high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC), including matched pretreatment biopsies. During the study period between 2006 and 2017, we collected pre-NAC and post-NAC tumor tissue samples from patients with advanced HGSOC. We performed combined next-generation sequencing and immunohistochemistry to identify actionable targets and pathway activation in post-NAC residual tumors.

Protective effects of a traditional herbal extract from Stellaria dichotoma var. lanceolata against Mycobacterium abscessus infections.

Stellaria dichotoma var. lanceolata (SdLv), a member of the Caryophyllaceae, is a traditional herbal medicine that has been used to treat fever, night sweats, and malaria in East Asia. Inflammation plays an essential role in both host defense and pathogenesis during infection by diverse intracellular pathogens.

NADPH oxidase 4 is required for the generation of macrophage migration inhibitory factor and host defense against Toxoplasma gondii infection.

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidases (Nox) are an important family of catalytic enzymes that generate reactive oxygen species (ROS), which mediate the regulation of diverse cellular functions. Although phagocyte Nox2/gp91phox is closely associated with the activation of host innate immune responses, the roles of Nox family protein during Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) infection have not been fully investigated.

Effect of material properties on stability of silver nanoparticles in water.

Increased production and use of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) could potentially lead to their release into the environment. Estimating the exposure to engineered nanomaterials in the environment is essential for assessing their risk. This study examined the aggregation and sedimentation kinetics behaviors of citrate- (Cit-AgNPs) and polyvinylpyrrolidone-coated silver nanoparticles (PVP-AgNPs) with three different average sizes in calcium chloride (CaCl2) solutions, emphasizing the effects of particle size and type of coating material on both behaviors.

Effects of MBL2 polymorphisms in patients with diisocyanate-induced occupational asthma.

Diisocyanate (DI) is the most common cause of occupational asthma (OA) in Korea. Mannose-binding lectin (MBL) initiates the lectin complement activation pathway following oxidative stress and plays an important role in the regulation of inflammatory processes. To determine whether there is a genetic association between MBL2 polymorphisms and DI-OA, 99 patients with DI-OA, 99 asymptomatic exposed controls (AECs) and 144 unexposed normal controls were enrolled in this study.

Diagnostic patterns in the evaluation of patients presenting with syncope at the emergency or outpatient department.

Purpose: Patterns of syncope evaluation vary widely among physicians and hospitals. The aim of this study was to assess current diagnostic patterns and medical costs in the evaluation of patients presenting with syncope at the emergency department (ED) or the outpatient department (OPD) of a referral hospital.

Materials And Methods: This study included 171 consecutive patients with syncope, who visited the ED or OPD between January 2009 and July 2009.

Endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene polymorphisms and the risk of silent brain infarction.

Silent brain infarction (SBI), a unique cerebrovascular disorder, is frequently detected on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of apparently healthy elderly persons, and it is known to increase the risk of stroke and other related diseases. Although detailed mechanisms of SBI pathogenesis have yet to be determined, recent studies suggest that SBI is significantly influenced by genetic factors. In this study, we investigated polymorphisms in the endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) gene (i.

Gender-specific association between polymorphism of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF 936C>T) gene and patients with stomach cancer.

Purpose: Angiogenesis plays an important role in the growth, progression, and metastasis of tumors. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) overexpression has been associated with advanced stage and poor survival in several cancers. We investigated the present case-control study to determine whether there is an association between the VEGF 936C>T polymorphism and stomach cancer.

Gender-specific association between polymorphism of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF 936 C>T) gene and colon cancer in Korea.

Background: Angiogenesis is an essential process in the development, growth and metastasis of malignant tumors such as colon cancer. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a potent angiogenic factor. A case control study was carried out to determine whether there is an association between the VEGF 936C>T polymorphism and colon cancer.

Parathyroid hormone-responsive B1 gene is associated with premature ovarian failure.

Background: Premature ovarian failure (POF) is a complex and heterogeneous disorder that is influenced by multiple genetic components. Here, we performed a two-stage association study to identify POF-associated genes.

Methods: A first stage linkage disequilibrium (LD)-based genome-wide association study was performed using 24 pairs of patients with POF and matched controls and a high-throughput BeadChip assay with 109365 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that are scattered throughout the genome in an exon-centric and evenly spaced manner.