Explore the action mechanism of Danggui Buxue decoction on chronic heart failure in rats by proteomics and untargeted metabolomics

Animal studies demonstrated that DBD could relieve CHF as it significantly reduced serum levels of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in CHF rats, and promoted the activity of catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), cytochrome oxidase (COX), and succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) in myocardial tissues. Myocardial proteomics analysis revealed that DBD improved myocardial mitochondria and peroxisomes function by regulating the expression of proteins associated with energy metabolism and oxidative damage. Western blotting confirmed that DBD upregulated the expression of proteins in the adenosine 5'-monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase (AMPK)/silent mating type information regulation 2 homolog-1 (SIRT1)/peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1 alpha (PGC-1 α)/peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor beta (PPAR β) signaling pathway, which also proved the efficacy of DBD in alleviating CHF in rats. Hepatic metabolomics analysis showed that DBD could restore the damaged liver function of CHF rats via metabolic pathways, including the metabolism of lipid, vitamin, and amino acids. In conclusion, this study unveiled a novel action mechanism of DBD in the treating ISO-induced CHF and liver injury based on proteomics and metabolomics. These results lay a scientific basis for the widespread application of DBD in the cardiovascular field.