The active components of Chaihu Shugan Powder may treat depressive disorders by enhancing neural plasticity, improving neuron growth, and regulating neurotransmitters.
The methodology of this research began with the utilization of early absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity calculation methods to identify and screen the active components within Chaihu Shugan Powder (CSP). Several databases and tools including the Traditional Chinese Medicine System Pharmacological Database Analysis Platform and a text mining tool were utilized in this process.
Followed by this, the research gathered data on depression-related targets from the Genetic Association Database, Therapeutic Target Database, and the PharmGkb database. They then leveraged Cytoscape3.2.1 software to construct a network map depicting the interaction between the identified active ingredients and their respective targets. Further, the research made use of the Database for Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery and the Omicshare database to carry out gene function analysis and uncover related metabolic pathways.
The discussion of results concluded that the active components in CSP could potentially have an antidepressant effect, primarily by means of enhancing neural plasticity and neuronal cell growth, and influencing gene expression. This antidepressant response is also made possible through the up-regulation of gap junction protein expression. The 15 identified targets participated in 14 different metabolic pathways, particularly involving neurotransmitter regulation (such as serotonin, dopamine and adrenaline), inflammatory mediator regulation of TRP channels, calcium signaling pathway, cyclic adenosine monophosphate signaling pathway and neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction and other signal channels.
