Integrated chemical profiling, network pharmacology and pharmacological evaluation to explore the potential mechanism of Xinbao pill against myocardial ischaemia–reperfusion injury

Abstract

Context: Xinbao pill (XBW), a traditional Chinese herbal formula, is widely used in clinical treatment for cardiovascular diseases; however, the therapeutic effect of XBW on myocardial ischaemia–reperfusion injury (MI/RI) is unclear. Objective: This study evaluates the cardioprotective effect and molecular mechanism of XBW against MI/RI. Materials and methods: A phytochemistry-based network pharmacology analysis was used to uncover the mechanism of XBW against MI/RI. Ultra performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry method was used to identify chemicals. MI/RI-related targets of XBW were predicted using TargetNet database, OMIC database, etc. Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats under anterior descending artery ligation model were divided into Sham, MI/RI and XBW (180 mg/kg, intragastric administration). After 30 min ischaemia and 24 h reperfusion, heart tissues were collected for measurement of myocardial infarct size. After oxygen glucose deprivation for 6 h, H9c2 cells were treated with XBW (60, 240 and 720 μg/mL) and diazoxide (100 μM) for 18 h of reperfusion. Results: Thirty-seven chemicals were identified in XBW; 50 MI/RI-related targets of XBW were predicted using indicated databases. XBW significantly reduced infarct size and creatine kinase MB (CK-MB) level after MI/RI; XBW protected H9c2 cells against OGD/R injury. Gene ontology (GO) and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses by String database showed that the cardioprotective effect of XBW was associated with autophagy and apoptosis signalling pathways. Experimental investigation also verified that XBW suppressed apoptosis, autophagy and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. Conclusions: XBW showed therapeutic effects against MI/RI mainly via attenuating apoptosis though suppressing excessive autophagy and ER stress.