Identification of quality markers and mechanisms of Anzi Tiaochong Fang in the treatment of antiphospholipid syndrome-related recurrent pregnancy loss: chemical analysis, network pharmacology, and in vitro approaches

Abstract Introduction Anzi Tiaochong Fang (ATF) is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) Fangji widely used to treat antiphospholipid syndrome-related recurrent pregnancy loss (APS-RPL). This study aimed to identify the quality markers and elucidate the mechanisms of ATF in treating APS-RPL. Methods...

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Main Authors: Shan He, Fei Ma, Jia Li, Da-yan Liu, Zhi-wei Wang, Peng-dian Chen, Jia-man Wu, Hong Chang, Yan Ning
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-01-01
Series:BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-025-04752-x
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author Shan He
Fei Ma
Jia Li
Da-yan Liu
Zhi-wei Wang
Peng-dian Chen
Jia-man Wu
Hong Chang
Yan Ning
author_facet Shan He
Fei Ma
Jia Li
Da-yan Liu
Zhi-wei Wang
Peng-dian Chen
Jia-man Wu
Hong Chang
Yan Ning
author_sort Shan He
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Introduction Anzi Tiaochong Fang (ATF) is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) Fangji widely used to treat antiphospholipid syndrome-related recurrent pregnancy loss (APS-RPL). This study aimed to identify the quality markers and elucidate the mechanisms of ATF in treating APS-RPL. Methods Chemical, network pharmacology, and in vitro verification were employed to identify quality markers and mechanisms of ATF. HPLC-MS/MS was used to identify and quantify ATF compounds. APS-RPL targets were identified using databases such as HERB, similarity ensemble approach, PharmMapper, Swiss Target Prediction, Gene Expression Omnibus, Genecards, and DisGeNET. GO and Reactome analyses were conducted using KOBAS-i. In vitro verification was performed using CCK-8, FDA staining, and ELISA. Results This study identified 23 compounds and 942 targets, including 132 APS-RPL targets and 42 targets between ATF and APS-RPL. GO analysis demonstrated significant enrichment in cytokine-mediated signaling pathway, positive regulation of angiogenesis, response to hypoxia, inflammatory response, and platelet degranulation. Reactome analysis indicated significant enrichment in Immune System, Cytokine Signaling in the Immune system, Signaling by Interleukins, Platelet activation, signaling and aggregation, and Signaling by VEGF. Core targets identified included VEGFA, ALB, TNF, IL-6, and STAT3, with liquiritigenin, nobiletin, ginsenoside Rb1, and astragalin identified as quality markers. In vitro experiments demonstrated that ATF promoted HTR-8/SVneo cell viability, significantly reduced TNF-α and IL-1β levels, and upregulated IL-6. Conclusions These findings contribute to the identification and quantification of potential quality markers and elucidate the molecular mechanisms of ATF, thereby supporting its therapeutic potential in the treatment of APS-RPL.
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spelling doaj-art-113f5950f9ae40a38f56f5ebf14440342025-01-26T12:15:08ZengBMCBMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies2662-76712025-01-0125111710.1186/s12906-025-04752-xIdentification of quality markers and mechanisms of Anzi Tiaochong Fang in the treatment of antiphospholipid syndrome-related recurrent pregnancy loss: chemical analysis, network pharmacology, and in vitro approachesShan He0Fei Ma1Jia Li2Da-yan Liu3Zhi-wei Wang4Peng-dian Chen5Jia-man Wu6Hong Chang7Yan Ning8Department of Pharmacy, Shenzhen Maternity and Child Healthcare Hospital, Southern Medical UniversityDepartment of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen Maternity and Child Healthcare Hospital, Southern Medical UniversityDepartment of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen Maternity and Child Healthcare Hospital, Southern Medical UniversityDepartment of Genesiology, Shenzhen Maternity and Child Healthcare Hospital, Southern Medical UniversityDepartment of Pharmacy, Shenzhen Maternity and Child Healthcare Hospital, Southern Medical UniversityDepartment of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen Maternity and Child Healthcare Hospital, Southern Medical UniversityDepartment of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen Maternity and Child Healthcare Hospital, Southern Medical UniversityDepartment of Pharmacy, Shenzhen Maternity and Child Healthcare Hospital, Southern Medical UniversityDepartment of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen Maternity and Child Healthcare Hospital, Southern Medical UniversityAbstract Introduction Anzi Tiaochong Fang (ATF) is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) Fangji widely used to treat antiphospholipid syndrome-related recurrent pregnancy loss (APS-RPL). This study aimed to identify the quality markers and elucidate the mechanisms of ATF in treating APS-RPL. Methods Chemical, network pharmacology, and in vitro verification were employed to identify quality markers and mechanisms of ATF. HPLC-MS/MS was used to identify and quantify ATF compounds. APS-RPL targets were identified using databases such as HERB, similarity ensemble approach, PharmMapper, Swiss Target Prediction, Gene Expression Omnibus, Genecards, and DisGeNET. GO and Reactome analyses were conducted using KOBAS-i. In vitro verification was performed using CCK-8, FDA staining, and ELISA. Results This study identified 23 compounds and 942 targets, including 132 APS-RPL targets and 42 targets between ATF and APS-RPL. GO analysis demonstrated significant enrichment in cytokine-mediated signaling pathway, positive regulation of angiogenesis, response to hypoxia, inflammatory response, and platelet degranulation. Reactome analysis indicated significant enrichment in Immune System, Cytokine Signaling in the Immune system, Signaling by Interleukins, Platelet activation, signaling and aggregation, and Signaling by VEGF. Core targets identified included VEGFA, ALB, TNF, IL-6, and STAT3, with liquiritigenin, nobiletin, ginsenoside Rb1, and astragalin identified as quality markers. In vitro experiments demonstrated that ATF promoted HTR-8/SVneo cell viability, significantly reduced TNF-α and IL-1β levels, and upregulated IL-6. Conclusions These findings contribute to the identification and quantification of potential quality markers and elucidate the molecular mechanisms of ATF, thereby supporting its therapeutic potential in the treatment of APS-RPL.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-025-04752-xAnzi tiaochong fangAntiphospholipid syndrome-related recurrent pregnancy lossHPLC-MS/MSQuality markersNetwork pharmacologyMechanism
spellingShingle Shan He
Fei Ma
Jia Li
Da-yan Liu
Zhi-wei Wang
Peng-dian Chen
Jia-man Wu
Hong Chang
Yan Ning
Identification of quality markers and mechanisms of Anzi Tiaochong Fang in the treatment of antiphospholipid syndrome-related recurrent pregnancy loss: chemical analysis, network pharmacology, and in vitro approaches
BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies
Anzi tiaochong fang
Antiphospholipid syndrome-related recurrent pregnancy loss
HPLC-MS/MS
Quality markers
Network pharmacology
Mechanism
title Identification of quality markers and mechanisms of Anzi Tiaochong Fang in the treatment of antiphospholipid syndrome-related recurrent pregnancy loss: chemical analysis, network pharmacology, and in vitro approaches
title_full Identification of quality markers and mechanisms of Anzi Tiaochong Fang in the treatment of antiphospholipid syndrome-related recurrent pregnancy loss: chemical analysis, network pharmacology, and in vitro approaches
title_fullStr Identification of quality markers and mechanisms of Anzi Tiaochong Fang in the treatment of antiphospholipid syndrome-related recurrent pregnancy loss: chemical analysis, network pharmacology, and in vitro approaches
title_full_unstemmed Identification of quality markers and mechanisms of Anzi Tiaochong Fang in the treatment of antiphospholipid syndrome-related recurrent pregnancy loss: chemical analysis, network pharmacology, and in vitro approaches
title_short Identification of quality markers and mechanisms of Anzi Tiaochong Fang in the treatment of antiphospholipid syndrome-related recurrent pregnancy loss: chemical analysis, network pharmacology, and in vitro approaches
title_sort identification of quality markers and mechanisms of anzi tiaochong fang in the treatment of antiphospholipid syndrome related recurrent pregnancy loss chemical analysis network pharmacology and in vitro approaches
topic Anzi tiaochong fang
Antiphospholipid syndrome-related recurrent pregnancy loss
HPLC-MS/MS
Quality markers
Network pharmacology
Mechanism
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-025-04752-x
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