Biochemical Targets and Molecular Mechanism of Matrine against Aging

The aim of this study is to explore the potential targets and molecular mechanism of matrine (MAT) against aging. Bioinformatic-based network pharmacology was used to investigate the aging-related targets and MAT-treated targets. A total of 193 potential genes of MAT against aging were obtained and then the top 10 key genes (cyclin D1, cyclin-dependent kinase 1, Cyclin A2, androgen receptor, Poly [ADP-ribose] polymerase-1 (PARP1), histone-lysine N-methyltransferase, albumin, mammalian target of rapamycin, histone deacetylase 2, and matrix metalloproteinase 9) were filtered by the molecular complex detection, maximal clique centrality (MMC) algorithm, and degree. The Metascape tool was used for analyzing biological processes and pathways of the top 10 key genes. The main biological processes were response to an inorganic substance and cellular response to chemical stress (including cellular response to oxidative stress). The major pathways were involved in cellular senescence and the cell cycle. After an analysis of major biological processes and pathways, it appears that PARP1/nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD(+))-mediated cellular senescence may play an important role in MAT against aging. Molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulation, and in vivo study were used for further investigation. MAT could interact with the cavity of the PARP1 protein with the binding energy at −8.5 kcal/mol. Results from molecular dynamics simulations showed that the PARP1-MAT complex was more stable than PARP1 alone and that the binding-free energy of the PARP1-MAT complex was −15.962 kcal/mol. The in vivo study showed that MAT could significantly increase the NAD(+) level of the liver of d-gal-induced aging mice. Therefore, MAT could interfere with aging through the PARP1/NAD(+)-mediated cellular senescence signaling pathway.