Bioinformatical and Biochemical Analyses on the Protective Role of Traditional Chinese Medicine against Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Abstract

Purpose

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the commonest cause of permanent vision loss in the elderly. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has long been used to treat AMD, although the underlying functional mechanisms are not understood. This study aims to predict the active ingredients through screening the chemical ingredients of anti-AMD decoction and to elucidate the underlying mechanisms.

Methods

We collected the prescriptions for effective AMD treatment with traditional Chinese medicine and screened several Chinese medicines that were used most frequently in order to compose "anti-AMD decoction." The pharmacologically active ingredients and corresponding targets in this anti-AMD decoction were mined using the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology (TCMSP) database. Subsequently, the AMD-related targets were identified through the GeneCards database. Network pharmacology was performed to construct the visual network of anti-AMD decoction-AMD protein-protein interaction (PPI). Further, the Autodock software was adopted for molecular docking on the core active ingredients and core targets. The function of core ingredients against oxidative stress and inflammation in retinal pigment epithelial cells was assessed using biochemical assays.

Results

We screened out 268 active ingredients in anti-AMD decoction corresponding to 258 ingredient targets, combined with 2160 disease targets in AMD, and obtained 129 drug-disease common targets. The key core proteins were predominantly involved in inflammation. Furthermore, molecular docking showed that four potential active ingredients (Quercetin, luteolin, naringenin and hederagenin) had good affinity with the core proteins, IL-6, TNF, VEGFA and MAPK3. Quercetin, luteolin and naringenin demonstrated capacities against oxidative stress and inflammation in human retinal pigment epithelial cells.

Conclusions

The data suggests that anti-AMD decoction has multiple functional components and targets in treating AMD, possibly mediated by suppression of oxidative stress and inflammation.

Keywords:

• Age-related macular degeneration (AMD)
• anti-AMD Decoction
• network pharmacology
• oxidative stress
• inflammation

Author contributions

X.S. developed the concept. X.Y.L. searched the literatures and performed bioinformatical analyses. Y.C., G.M.T. and X.Z. carried out biochemical analyses. G.M.T. and X.S. analyzed the data. X.L. Z.H., J.R., Z.T. and X.S. drafted the manuscript.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

The authors confirm that the data supporting the findings of this study are available within the article and its supplementary materials.

Additional information

Funding

This work was partially supported by the Lotus Scholarship Program of Hunan Province [2019], the Rosetrees Trust [M160, M160-F1, M160-F2], Sight Research UK [SAC037], TENOVUS Scotland [S20-02] and the Chief Scientist Office/the RS Macdonald Charitable Trust [SNRF2021].