Understanding How Herbal Ingredients in Danshen-Chishao Help Prevent Blood Clots

Jim Crocker
17th July, 2024

Understanding How Herbal Ingredients in Danshen-Chishao Help Prevent Blood Clots

Image Source: Natural Science News, 2024

Key Findings

  • The study from Chongqing University of Technology found that the DS-CS herbal pair has significant antithrombotic effects in zebrafish
  • The combination of PF and SAA at 25 μg/mL each showed a stronger antithrombotic effect than either component alone
  • Molecular analysis revealed that DS-CS affects key genes like SRC, EGFR, and F10, which are involved in blood clotting
Salvia miltiorrhiza (Danshen, DS) and Radix Paeoniae Rubra (Chishao, CS) have been utilized in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries, particularly for their antithrombotic properties. Despite their long history of use, the precise mechanisms behind their therapeutic effects have remained elusive. A recent study conducted by Chongqing University of Technology aims to shed light on these mechanisms by examining the antithrombotic effects of DS-CS in zebrafish and exploring its potential molecular action[1]. The study begins by evaluating the quality of DS and CS granules using High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). This ensures that the herbal components used are of high quality and consistent for experimental purposes. The researchers then tested the therapeutic effects of DS-CS and its individual components, Salvianolic Acid A (SAA) and Paeoniflorin (PF), in various concentrations on thrombosis in zebrafish models. The results were promising: DS-CS exhibited significant antithrombotic effects at concentrations ranging from 25 to 300 μg/mL. Notably, the combination of PF and SAA at 25 μg/mL each demonstrated a synergistic effect, surpassing the efficacy of either component alone when compared to PHZ treatment. This synergy suggests that the combined use of these compounds enhances their antithrombotic properties. To uncover the molecular mechanisms behind these effects, the researchers employed network pharmacology. This analytical approach predicted potential antithrombotic targets of DS-CS. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) analysis identified several key genes associated with the antithrombotic action of PF and SAA, including Albumin (ALB), Proto-oncogene tyrosine-protein kinase Src (SRC), Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP9), Caspase-3 (CASP3), Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), Fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2), Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (KDR), Matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP2), Thrombin (F2), and Coagulation factor Xa (F10). Further validation through molecular docking revealed strong binding affinities of PF and SAA to pivotal hub genes such as SRC, EGFR, and F10. This was supported by in vivo zebrafish experiments and qRT-PCR, which demonstrated that DS-CS could upregulate the mRNA expression levels of EGFR while inhibiting F10 and SRC mRNA levels. These molecular interactions suggest that DS-CS exerts its antithrombotic effects by modulating the expression of these critical genes. This study builds on previous research that has explored the antithrombotic properties of traditional Chinese herbal pairs. For instance, earlier studies have highlighted the importance of network pharmacology in understanding the complex mechanisms of herbal medicines. One such study investigated the interactions between the Danshen-Chuanxiong (DS-CX) pair and Western cardiovascular drugs, revealing that DS could directly target antithrombotic pathways, whereas CX acted synergistically with DS[2]. Another study identified key chemical markers in DS-CX, such as tanshinone I and tanshinone IIA, which were found to be crucial for quality control and therapeutic efficacy[3]. These findings underscore the multifaceted nature of herbal medicines, which often involve "multi-component, multi-target, and multi-effect" mechanisms[3]. The current study by Chongqing University of Technology not only corroborates these earlier findings but also expands our understanding by identifying specific molecular targets and pathways involved in the antithrombotic effects of DS-CS. The involvement of lipid metabolism and atherosclerosis pathways, as indicated by KEGG pathway analysis, further enriches our comprehension of how DS-CS might ameliorate thrombotic conditions. In conclusion, this research provides valuable insights into the antithrombotic mechanisms of the DS-CS herbal pair. The identification of PF and SAA as key active ingredients, along with their interaction with crucial genes such as SRC, EGFR, and F10, offers a deeper understanding of how these traditional medicines exert their therapeutic effects. This study not only enhances our knowledge of DS-CS's potential but also lays the groundwork for future investigations to further elucidate its mechanisms of action.

HerbsMedicineBiochem

References

Main Study

1) Theoretical exploring of potential mechanisms of antithrombotic ingredients in danshen-chishao herb-pair by network pharmacological study, molecular docking and zebrafish models.

Published 16th July, 2024

https://doi.org/10.1186/s13020-024-00970-6

Related Studies

2) Interactions of antithrombotic herbal medicines with Western cardiovascular drugs.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phrs.2020.104963

3) A network pharmacology-based study on the quality control markers of antithrombotic herbs: Using Salvia miltiorrhiza - Ligusticum chuanxiong as an example.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2022.115197


Related Articles

An unhandled error has occurred. Reload 🗙