2. Academic Validation
  3. Integration of serum metabolomics and network pharmacology reveals the immunoenhancing mechanisms of Qishenbuqi capsules

Integration of serum metabolomics and network pharmacology reveals the immunoenhancing mechanisms of Qishenbuqi capsules

  • Toxicol Res (Camb). 2023 Feb 14;12(2):201-215. doi: 10.1093/toxres/tfad008.
Ziyu Zhao 1 2 3,  Yuhui Fan 1 2 3,  Yutao Cui 1 2 3,  Lan Yang 1 2 3,  Yanfei Wu 4,  Yuan Yuan 4,  Ping Zhang 5,  Ruping Zhao 6,  Jianjun Ji 7,  Sheng Xu 7,  Xuemei Qin 1 2 3,  Xiao-Jie Liu 1 2 3
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China.
  • 2 Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China.
  • 3 Key Laboratory of Effective Substances Research and Utilization in TCM of Shanxi Province, Taiyuan 030006, China.
  • 4 The First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, China.
  • 5 The Center for Disease Control and Prevention of Taiyuan, Taiyuan 030012, China.
  • 6 Taiyuan Jinyuan District Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Taiyuan 030000, China.
  • 7 Guangshengyuan TCM Co., Ltd, Datong 037300, China.
PMID: 37125330 DOI: 10.1093/toxres/tfad008
Abstract

Introduction: Qishenbuqi capsule (QSBQC), a listed Chinese patent prescription, comprises of 4 herbs. Clinically, it has been shown to improve immune functions.

Methods: Subjects with Qi deficiency and non-Qi deficiency were recruited, who then took QSBQC for 4 weeks. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome scores and the levels of white blood cells, CD3+ T cells (CD3+), CD4+ T cells (CD3+CD4+), CD8+ T cells (CD3+CD8+), and CD4+/CD8+ were determined. Serum metabolomics was used to explore the metabolic mechanisms of QSBQC on improving immunity. Meanwhile, the potential active ingredients, targets, and pathways of QSBQC on enhancing immunity were screened by network pharmacology.

Results: QSBQC significantly improved TCM syndrome scores and increased the number of CD8+ T cells of both Qi deficiency and non-Qi deficiency subjects. Serum metabolomics revealed that QSBQC regulated 18 differential metabolites and 8 metabolic pathways of Qi deficiency, and 12 differential metabolites and 7 metabolic pathways of non-Qi deficiency subjects. The "herbs-compounds-pathways" diagram showed that PQ-2, cimifugin, and divaricatol were the main active components. Pathways in Cancer and arginine and proline metabolism could be the most important pathways.

Conclusion: Our research revealed the immunoenhancing mechanisms of QSBQC and improved the combination of TCM theory and modern western medicine theory.

Keywords

Qishenbuqi capsules; immunity; network pharmacology; serum metabolomics.

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