Scutellariae Radix and Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma pairs ameliorate preeclampsia via PI3K/AKT/eNOS pathway

IntroductionPreeclampsia stands as a leading cause of maternal mortality. Scutellariae Radix and Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma (SA) is a commonly employed traditional Chinese medicine pair in the treatment of preeclampsia, yet the underlying mechanisms of their protective effects against preecl...

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Main Authors: Shujun Sun, Jie Li, Dingmei Qin, Xiaoxiao Yang, Huilin Zhang, Yue Yang, Mengmeng Li, Ruihua Jin, Jianye Dai, Yong Liu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-07-01
Series:Frontiers in Pharmacology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2025.1614167/full
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author Shujun Sun
Shujun Sun
Jie Li
Dingmei Qin
Xiaoxiao Yang
Huilin Zhang
Yue Yang
Mengmeng Li
Ruihua Jin
Jianye Dai
Yong Liu
Yong Liu
author_facet Shujun Sun
Shujun Sun
Jie Li
Dingmei Qin
Xiaoxiao Yang
Huilin Zhang
Yue Yang
Mengmeng Li
Ruihua Jin
Jianye Dai
Yong Liu
Yong Liu
author_sort Shujun Sun
collection DOAJ
description IntroductionPreeclampsia stands as a leading cause of maternal mortality. Scutellariae Radix and Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma (SA) is a commonly employed traditional Chinese medicine pair in the treatment of preeclampsia, yet the underlying mechanisms of their protective effects against preeclampsia remain elusive.MethodsIn this study, the N- nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) was utilized to establish a preeclamptic pregnant mouse model, and the protective effects of SA were systematically evaluated. A comprehensive approach integrating network pharmacology analysis, quantitative proteomics, and in vitro experiments was adopted to probe into the relevant mechanisms.ResultsIt was demonstrated that SA could significantly ameliorate the systolic blood pressure, urinary protein levels, and pathological damage in the kidneys and placenta of mice. Moreover, in vitro experiments further validated the promoting effects of SA, baicalin, and atractylenolide I on the proliferation and migration of HTR-8/SVneo cells. Baicalin and atractylenolide I are the main active and quality control components of SA. Network pharmacology analysis, quantitative proteomics and molecular docking revealed that the PI3K/Akt pathway is a potential mechanism through which SA alleviates preeclampsia. Further investigations showed that SA could reverse L-NAME-induced inhibition of the PI3K/p-Akt/Akt signaling pathway, upregulating eNOS expression and ultimately alleviating vasoconstriction and other preeclampsia-related symptoms.ConclusionSA has the capacity to improve preeclampsia-induced increases in blood pressure and urinary protein, holding promise as a novel strategy for the treatment of preeclampsia.
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spelling doaj-art-3d0c37122f4148f0845f0acb9d13d6282025-08-20T02:35:49ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Pharmacology1663-98122025-07-011610.3389/fphar.2025.16141671614167Scutellariae Radix and Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma pairs ameliorate preeclampsia via PI3K/AKT/eNOS pathwayShujun Sun0Shujun Sun1Jie Li2Dingmei Qin3Xiaoxiao Yang4Huilin Zhang5Yue Yang6Mengmeng Li7Ruihua Jin8Jianye Dai9Yong Liu10Yong Liu11School of Biology and Food Engineering, Fuyang Normal University, Fuyang, ChinaAnhui Rural Revitalization Collaborative Technology Service Center, Fuyang Normal University, Fuyang, ChinaSchool of Biology and Food Engineering, Fuyang Normal University, Fuyang, ChinaSchool of Biology and Food Engineering, Fuyang Normal University, Fuyang, ChinaSchool of Biology and Food Engineering, Fuyang Normal University, Fuyang, ChinaSchool of Biology and Food Engineering, Fuyang Normal University, Fuyang, ChinaSchool of Pharmacy, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, ChinaSchool of Biology and Food Engineering, Fuyang Normal University, Fuyang, ChinaFuyang Women and Children's Hospital, Fuyang Normal University, Fuyang, ChinaSchool of Pharmacy, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, ChinaSchool of Biology and Food Engineering, Fuyang Normal University, Fuyang, ChinaAnhui Province Key Laboratory of Embryo Development and Reproductive Regulation, Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Environmental Hormone and Reproduction, Fuyang Normal University, Fuyang, Anhui, ChinaIntroductionPreeclampsia stands as a leading cause of maternal mortality. Scutellariae Radix and Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma (SA) is a commonly employed traditional Chinese medicine pair in the treatment of preeclampsia, yet the underlying mechanisms of their protective effects against preeclampsia remain elusive.MethodsIn this study, the N- nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) was utilized to establish a preeclamptic pregnant mouse model, and the protective effects of SA were systematically evaluated. A comprehensive approach integrating network pharmacology analysis, quantitative proteomics, and in vitro experiments was adopted to probe into the relevant mechanisms.ResultsIt was demonstrated that SA could significantly ameliorate the systolic blood pressure, urinary protein levels, and pathological damage in the kidneys and placenta of mice. Moreover, in vitro experiments further validated the promoting effects of SA, baicalin, and atractylenolide I on the proliferation and migration of HTR-8/SVneo cells. Baicalin and atractylenolide I are the main active and quality control components of SA. Network pharmacology analysis, quantitative proteomics and molecular docking revealed that the PI3K/Akt pathway is a potential mechanism through which SA alleviates preeclampsia. Further investigations showed that SA could reverse L-NAME-induced inhibition of the PI3K/p-Akt/Akt signaling pathway, upregulating eNOS expression and ultimately alleviating vasoconstriction and other preeclampsia-related symptoms.ConclusionSA has the capacity to improve preeclampsia-induced increases in blood pressure and urinary protein, holding promise as a novel strategy for the treatment of preeclampsia.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2025.1614167/fullpreeclampsiascutellariae radixatractylodis macrocephalae rhizomadrug pairsPI3K/Akt/eNOS pathway
spellingShingle Shujun Sun
Shujun Sun
Jie Li
Dingmei Qin
Xiaoxiao Yang
Huilin Zhang
Yue Yang
Mengmeng Li
Ruihua Jin
Jianye Dai
Yong Liu
Yong Liu
Scutellariae Radix and Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma pairs ameliorate preeclampsia via PI3K/AKT/eNOS pathway
Frontiers in Pharmacology
preeclampsia
scutellariae radix
atractylodis macrocephalae rhizoma
drug pairs
PI3K/Akt/eNOS pathway
title Scutellariae Radix and Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma pairs ameliorate preeclampsia via PI3K/AKT/eNOS pathway
title_full Scutellariae Radix and Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma pairs ameliorate preeclampsia via PI3K/AKT/eNOS pathway
title_fullStr Scutellariae Radix and Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma pairs ameliorate preeclampsia via PI3K/AKT/eNOS pathway
title_full_unstemmed Scutellariae Radix and Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma pairs ameliorate preeclampsia via PI3K/AKT/eNOS pathway
title_short Scutellariae Radix and Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma pairs ameliorate preeclampsia via PI3K/AKT/eNOS pathway
title_sort scutellariae radix and atractylodis macrocephalae rhizoma pairs ameliorate preeclampsia via pi3k akt enos pathway
topic preeclampsia
scutellariae radix
atractylodis macrocephalae rhizoma
drug pairs
PI3K/Akt/eNOS pathway
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2025.1614167/full
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