Background: Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disease whose cause and molecular mechanism remain unclear. Dingzhen pill (DZP), a water extract from crude herbs, is thought to possibly play a neuroprotective role in PD. However, the underlying pharmacological mechanisms of the DZP and its impact on the potential pathways against PD have not been elucidated. Aim: The aim of this study was to explore the effect and molecular mechanism of DZP treatment on PD by quantitative proteomic and metabolomic analysis. Methods: The effect of DZP on the behavior of movement disorders in a mouse model of MPTP-induced was first evaluated. Secondary metabolomics for TCM resolved the components of DZP and its metabolites distributed in the serum of PD mice. Proteomics was used to resolve the effects of DZP on proteins in brain tissue in mice with PD. Network pharmacology and molecular docking analysis were used to screen and validate the binding relationships of components and targets. Immunofluorescence and western blot analysis verified the pathway affected by DZP. Results: Our study showed that DZP improved the movement disorder of PD mice and promoted the recovery of dopaminergic neurons in substantia nigra. Secondary metabolomics showed that 460 kinds of secondary metabolites existed in serum of PD mice after DZP treatment. Proteomics analysis showed that DZP affected the expression of 9393 proteins, 87 of which were up-regulated and 120 down-regulated. Through target prediction and molecular docking, a total of 8 compounds were found to interact with 8 pathological PD targets, playing a significant role in neuronal protection. In addition, DZP inhibits neuronal ferroptosis and neuroinflammation by inhibiting the cGAS-STING pathway. Conclusion: This study is helpful to understand the molecular mechanism of the multi-component, multi-target neuroprotective effect of DZ, and may contribute to the development of DZP as a new therapeutic strategy for clinical application in PD.

Introduction: Vascular dementia (VaD) is closely associated with oxidative stress and intracellular calcium overload. PLCγ1, IP3R, CAMKKII, and CaM proteins play important roles in mediating intracellular calcium overload and excessive accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Tongqiao Huashuan (TQHS) granules represent a formulated preparation derived from traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), which have demonstrated extensive clinical application in managing VaD. Although TQHS granules have shown favorable clinical efficacy, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. The present investigation sought to clarify protective roles exerted by TQHS granules against VaD via modulation of relevant signaling cascades. Methods: Using a permanent bilateral common carotid artery occlusion (2-VO) rat model and an OGD/R-induced SH-SY5Y cell model, we evaluated cognitive function, neuronal injury, and pathway-related molecular changes. Results: TQHS granules markedly ameliorated behavioral deficits and restored cognitive performance in VaD rats following treatment. Immunohistochemistry and Western blotting experiments demonstrated that TQHS granules regulated protein abundance of PLCγ1, p-PLCγ1, IP3R, CAMKKII, and CaM, which are proteins related to the PLCγ1/IP3R signaling pathway, in vivo . Data derived from CCK-8, microplate reader detection, and immunofluorescence experiments demonstrated that TQHS granules increased cell survival rate, reduced intracellular Ca ²⁺ concentration, and reduced ROS levels. RT-qPCR showed that TQHS granules increased the expression of PLCγ1, IP3R and TrkB. Discussion: The neuroprotective effect of TQHS granules on experimental VaD may be mediated by regulating the PLCγ1/IP3R pathway, improving oxidative stress injury and intracellular calcium overload in VaD. TQHS granules hold considerable promise as a viable complementary intervention capable of retarding the neurodegenerative trajectory of VaD.

Background: Coronary heart disease (CHD) has a high global disease burden. According to traditional Chinese medicine theory, the main syndrome type of CHD is the syndrome of intermingled phlegm and blood stasis (SI-GPBS). Tanyu Tongzhi Decoction (TYTZD) exerts clear cardioprotective effects on CHD patients with SI-GPBS, while its specific regulatory mechanism remains unclear. Methods: Clinical serum proteomics and network pharmacology were used to screen key targets and pathways for CHD with SI-GPBS. An APOE^−/− mouse model of CHD complicated with SI-GPBS was established and treated with TYTZD. Transcriptomics, proteomics and WGCNA were combined to screen core genes, with Western blotting, immunofluorescence, co-localization analysis and Carstairs staining for target verification and observation of coronary microthrombosis and endothelial injury. Results: A total of 754 differentially expressed proteins were identified in CHD patients with SI-GPBS, significantly enriched in the platelet activation pathway, with ITGA2B as the upregulated core hub protein. Network pharmacology found 94 active ingredients and 144 therapeutic targets of TYTZD for CHD with SI-GPBS, and key components bound well with ITGA2B. In APOE^−/− mice with SI-GPBS, TYTZD improved cardiac function, reduced blood lipids, myocardial enzymes, aortic lipid deposition and myocardial damage, downregulated ITGA2B, F2RL2, FGA and FGB, inhibited integrin αIIbβ3 signaling, restrained endothelial activation and reduced coronary microthrombosis. Conclusions: TYTZD treats CHD with SI-GPBS mainly by inhibiting platelet activation, improving endothelial dysfunction, and reducing coronary microthrombosis. This study provides experimental basis for TYTZD’s clinical application in CHD with SI-GPBS and new ideas for TCM syndrome–disease combination research.