Ju Zhang

Prof. Dr. Ju Zhang


Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

11Years (2016-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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1 November 2016 in Journal of Ethnopharmacology
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
JZJu Zhang
Ju Zhang
RSRuona Shi
Ruona Shi
HLHaifeng Li
Haifeng Li
YXYanxia Xiang
Yanxia Xiang
LXLingyun Xiao
Lingyun Xiao
ZHZebo Huang
Zebo Huang

21 March 2023
Verified
Book Chapter
Closed access
QWQiangqiang Wang
Qiangqiang Wang
MAMuhammad Zeeshan Adil
Muhammad Zeeshan Adil
XXXiaoliang Xie
Xiaoliang Xie
SZShihao Zhao
Shihao Zhao
JZJu Zhang
Ju Zhang
ZHZebo Huang
Zebo Huang

30 August 2024 in BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
RZRanran Zhang
Ranran Zhang
XHXiaoyan Huang
Xiaoyan Huang
CZChunling Zhou
Chunling Zhou
QZQian Zhang
Qian Zhang
DJDongsheng Jia
Dongsheng Jia
JZJu Zhang
Ju Zhang
Background: Dauricine (DAU), a benzyl tetrahydroisoquinoline alkaloid isolated from the root of Menispermum dauricum DC, exhibits promising anti-Alzheimer’s disease (AD) effects, but its underlying mechanisms remain inadequately investigated. This paper aims to identify potential targets and molecular mechanisms of DAU in AD treatment. Methods: Network pharmacology and molecular docking simulation method were used to screen and focus core targets. Various transgenic Caenorhabditis elegans models were chosen to validate the anti-AD efficacy and mechanism of DAU. Results: There are 66 potential DAU-AD target intersections identified from 100 DAU and 3036 AD-related targets. Subsequent protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis identified 16 core targets of DAU for anti-AD. PIK3CA, AKT1 and mTOR were predicted to be the central targets with the best connectivity through the analysis of “compound-target-biological process-pathway network”. Molecular docking revealed strong binding affinities between DAU and PIK3CA, AKT1, and mTOR. In vivo experiments demonstrated that DAU effectively reduced paralysis in AD nematodes caused by Aβ aggregation toxicity, downregulated expression of PIK3CA, AKT1, and mTOR homologues (age-1, akt-1, let-363), and upregulated expression of autophagy genes and the marker protein LGG-1. Simultaneously, DAU increased lysosomal content and enhanced degradation of the autophagy-related substrate protein P62. Thioflavin T(Th-T)staining experiment revealed that DAU decreased Aβ accumulation in AD nematodes. Further experiments also confirmed DAU’s protein scavenging activity in polyglutamine (polyQ) aggregation nematodes. Conclusion: Collectively, the mechanism of DAU against AD may be related to the activation of the autophagy-lysosomal protein clearance pathway, which contributes to the decrease of Aβ aggregation and the restoration of protein homeostasis.