The mechanisms of pei-yuan-tong-nao capsule as a therapeutic agent against cerebrovascular disease

Abstract

Objective: Pei-Yuan-Tong-Nao (PYTN) capsule has been widely used for the treatment of cerebrovascular disease (CVD), including cerebral ischemia. However, due to the complexity of traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and the lack of proper inspection methods, the pharmacological mechanisms of the actions of PYTN capsule on CVD remain ambiguous. In this investigation, a network pharmacology method was used to investigate the mechanism of action of PYTN capsule in the treatment of CVD. Methods: In this method, a chemical similarity ensemble approach was employed to predict putative targets for chemicals derived from PYTN capsule. Results: Thus, a total of 351 compounds and 650 proteins were identified as potential active ingredients and putative CVD-related targets. In addition, two interaction networks were constructed, including a network between putative targets of PYTN capsule and known CVD-related targets, and a network between candidate active compounds and putative CVD-related targets. Conclusion: The mechanism of PYTN capsule in the treatment of CVD was found to be based on three functional modules, namely, antioxidation, anti-inflammation, and antiapoptosis modules through multiple signaling pathways, such as PI3K-Akt, mitogen-activated protein kinase, and TNF signaling pathways. We hope that this work can provide insight into the pharmacological mechanisms of TCMs in the treatment of CVD and provide a basis for further development and the discovery of more effective clinical strategies for the treatment of complicated diseases.