Zhujing Pill ameliorates age-related macular degeneration by regulating lipid metabolism, complement activation, and inflammatory responses: an integrated network pharmacology and metabolomics study -

3 hours ago

Zhujing Pill (ZJP), a traditional Chinese medicine, is historically used for visual disorders linked to age-related liver and kidney deficiency, which aligns with AMD symptoms.
An integrated study using network pharmacology and metabolomics identified 386 constituents in ZJP, with key compounds like quercetin and kaempferol targeting proteins such as AKT3 and HSP90AA1.
In a mouse model of AMD, high-dose ZJP significantly improved retinal function and structure, increasing time in a dark chamber by 90.51% and restoring retinal thickness by 84.76%.
In cell studies, ZJP protected against LPC-induced injury in ARPE-19 cells, boosting cell viability by 105.56% and inhibiting complement overactivation and inflammation.
Metabolomic analysis showed ZJP regulates lipid metabolism, bile acid biosynthesis, and cholesterol efflux via upregulation of LXRα and ABCA1, while modulating cholesterol uptake through LDLR.
The study concludes that ZJP ameliorates AMD by regulating cholesterol efflux, suppressing complement activation, and normalizing lipid metabolism, supporting its traditional use and therapeutic potential.

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