An Integrated Approach Exploring the Synergistic Mechanism of Herbal Pairs in a Botanical Dietary Supplement: A Case Study of a Liver Protection Health Food

Herbal pairs are used as a bridge between single herb and polyherbal formulas in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) to provide rationale for complicated TCM formulas. The effectiveness and rationality of TCM herbal pairs have been widely applied as a strategy for dietary supplements. However, due to...

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Main Authors: Liang Chen, Chun Hu, Molly Hood, Juntao Kan, Xiaona Gan, Xue Zhang, Yi Zhang, Jun Du
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2020-01-01
Series:International Journal of Genomics
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2020/9054192
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author Liang Chen
Chun Hu
Molly Hood
Juntao Kan
Xiaona Gan
Xue Zhang
Yi Zhang
Jun Du
author_facet Liang Chen
Chun Hu
Molly Hood
Juntao Kan
Xiaona Gan
Xue Zhang
Yi Zhang
Jun Du
author_sort Liang Chen
collection DOAJ
description Herbal pairs are used as a bridge between single herb and polyherbal formulas in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) to provide rationale for complicated TCM formulas. The effectiveness and rationality of TCM herbal pairs have been widely applied as a strategy for dietary supplements. However, due to the complexity of the phytochemistry of individual and combinations of herbal materials, it is difficult to reveal their effective and synergistic mechanisms from a molecular or systematic point of view. In order to address this question, UPLC-Q-TOF/MS analysis and System Pharmacology tools were applied to explore the mechanism of action, using a White Peony (Paeoniae Radix Alba) and Licorice (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma)-based dietary supplement. A total of sixteen chemical constituents of White Peony and Licorice were isolated and identified, which interact with 73 liver protection-related targets. Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis were then performed along with network analysis. Results showed that the synergistic mechanism of the White Peony and Licorice herbal pair was associated with their coregulation of bile secretion and ABC transporter pathways. In addition, Licorice exhibits a specific response to drug and xenobiotic metabolism pathways, whereas White Peony responds to Toll-like receptor signaling, C-type lectin receptor signaling, IL-17 signaling, and TNF signaling pathways, resulting in the prevention of hepatocyte apoptosis and the reduction of immune and inflammation-mediated liver damage. These findings suggest that a White Peony and Licorice herbal pair supplement would have a liver-protecting benefit through complimentary and synergistic mechanisms. This approach provides a new path to explore herbal compatibility in dietary supplements derived from TCM theory.
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spelling doaj-art-07661dd2d2b34ace99b36748414d24112025-02-03T06:05:13ZengWileyInternational Journal of Genomics2314-436X2314-43782020-01-01202010.1155/2020/90541929054192An Integrated Approach Exploring the Synergistic Mechanism of Herbal Pairs in a Botanical Dietary Supplement: A Case Study of a Liver Protection Health FoodLiang Chen0Chun Hu1Molly Hood2Juntao Kan3Xiaona Gan4Xue Zhang5Yi Zhang6Jun Du7Nutrilite Health Institute, 720 Cailun Road, Shanghai 201203, ChinaNutrilite Health Institute, 5600 Beach Boulevard, Buena Park, CA 90621, USANutrilite Health Institute, 7575 East Fulton Avenue, Ada, MI 49355, USANutrilite Health Institute, 720 Cailun Road, Shanghai 201203, ChinaNutrilite Health Institute, 720 Cailun Road, Shanghai 201203, ChinaNutrilite Health Institute, 720 Cailun Road, Shanghai 201203, ChinaNutrilite Health Institute, 720 Cailun Road, Shanghai 201203, ChinaNutrilite Health Institute, 720 Cailun Road, Shanghai 201203, ChinaHerbal pairs are used as a bridge between single herb and polyherbal formulas in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) to provide rationale for complicated TCM formulas. The effectiveness and rationality of TCM herbal pairs have been widely applied as a strategy for dietary supplements. However, due to the complexity of the phytochemistry of individual and combinations of herbal materials, it is difficult to reveal their effective and synergistic mechanisms from a molecular or systematic point of view. In order to address this question, UPLC-Q-TOF/MS analysis and System Pharmacology tools were applied to explore the mechanism of action, using a White Peony (Paeoniae Radix Alba) and Licorice (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma)-based dietary supplement. A total of sixteen chemical constituents of White Peony and Licorice were isolated and identified, which interact with 73 liver protection-related targets. Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis were then performed along with network analysis. Results showed that the synergistic mechanism of the White Peony and Licorice herbal pair was associated with their coregulation of bile secretion and ABC transporter pathways. In addition, Licorice exhibits a specific response to drug and xenobiotic metabolism pathways, whereas White Peony responds to Toll-like receptor signaling, C-type lectin receptor signaling, IL-17 signaling, and TNF signaling pathways, resulting in the prevention of hepatocyte apoptosis and the reduction of immune and inflammation-mediated liver damage. These findings suggest that a White Peony and Licorice herbal pair supplement would have a liver-protecting benefit through complimentary and synergistic mechanisms. This approach provides a new path to explore herbal compatibility in dietary supplements derived from TCM theory.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2020/9054192
spellingShingle Liang Chen
Chun Hu
Molly Hood
Juntao Kan
Xiaona Gan
Xue Zhang
Yi Zhang
Jun Du
An Integrated Approach Exploring the Synergistic Mechanism of Herbal Pairs in a Botanical Dietary Supplement: A Case Study of a Liver Protection Health Food
International Journal of Genomics
title An Integrated Approach Exploring the Synergistic Mechanism of Herbal Pairs in a Botanical Dietary Supplement: A Case Study of a Liver Protection Health Food
title_full An Integrated Approach Exploring the Synergistic Mechanism of Herbal Pairs in a Botanical Dietary Supplement: A Case Study of a Liver Protection Health Food
title_fullStr An Integrated Approach Exploring the Synergistic Mechanism of Herbal Pairs in a Botanical Dietary Supplement: A Case Study of a Liver Protection Health Food
title_full_unstemmed An Integrated Approach Exploring the Synergistic Mechanism of Herbal Pairs in a Botanical Dietary Supplement: A Case Study of a Liver Protection Health Food
title_short An Integrated Approach Exploring the Synergistic Mechanism of Herbal Pairs in a Botanical Dietary Supplement: A Case Study of a Liver Protection Health Food
title_sort integrated approach exploring the synergistic mechanism of herbal pairs in a botanical dietary supplement a case study of a liver protection health food
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2020/9054192
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