Exploring the Mechanism of Ling-Gui-Zhu-Gan Decoction in Ventricular Remodeling after Acute Myocardial Infarction Based on UPLC and In Vivo Experiments

Figure 1. UPLC-PDA analysis of LGZGD. The chromatograms of standard compounds (a) and LGZGD (b). Liquiritin (1), isoliquiritin (2), coumarin (3), cinnamic alcohol (4), cinnamic acid (5), cinnamaldehyde (6), glycyrrhizic acid (7), and atractylenolide III (8).

Figure 2. The characteristic chemical structures of LGZGD.

Figure 3. Molecular docking diagram of top 3 components of LGZGD and NLRP3: (a) liquiritin; (b) atractylenolide III; (c) isoliquiritin.

Figure 4. Molecular docking diagram of top 3 components of LGZGD and Caspase-1: (a) atractylenolide III; (b) isoliquiritin; (c) glycyrrhizic acid.

Figure 5. Molecular docking diagram of top 3 components of LGZGD and GSDMD: (a) isoliquiritin; (b) glycyrrhizic acid; (c) liquiritin.

Figure 6. LGZGD improves cardiac function on hemodynamic indexes: (a) LVSP; (b) LVEDP; (c) +dP/dtmax; (d) −dP/dtmax. The values are expressed as mean ± SD (n = 10). ∗∗P < 0.01 vs. sham group, ##P < 0.01 vs. model group.

Figure 7. LGZGD improves the morphological changes via H&E staining (×100 and ×200).

Figure 8. LGZGD alleviates myocardial fibrosis and CVF via Masson staining (×100 and ×200). Values are expressed as mean ± SD (n = 10). ∗∗P < 0.01 vs. sham group, ##P < 0.01 vs. model group.

Figure 9. LGZGD reduces cardiomyocyte apoptosis via TUNEL staining. Light blue: the nucleus of normal myocardium; pale brown: the nucleus of apoptosis. The values are expressed as mean ± SD (n = 10). ∗∗P < 0.01 vs. sham group, ##P < 0.01 vs. model group.

Figure 10. LGZGD decreases NLRP3, Caspase-1, and GSDMD levels via immunohistochemical analyses. The values are expressed as mean ± SD (n = 5). ∗∗P < 0.01 vs. sham group, ##P < 0.01 vs. model group.

Figure 11. LGZGD decreases IL-1β level in AMI-induced myocardial injury. The values are expressed as mean ± SD (n = 10). ∗∗P < 0.05 vs. sham group, ##P < 0.05 vs. model group.

Figure 12. LGZGD regulates protein expressions of NLRP3, Caspase-1, and GSDMD in AMI rats: (a) NLRP3, Caspase-1, and GSDMD pictures of Western spots; (b) NLRP3; (c) Caspase-1 p20; (d) GSDMD. (A) sham group; (B) model group; (C) LGZGD group; (D) captopril group. The values were expressed as the mean ± SD (n = 3). ∗∗P < 0.01 vs. sham group, ##P < 0.01 vs. model group.