Investigation of the mechanism of action of Porana sinensis Hemsl. against gout arthritis using network pharmacology and experimental validation

Elucidating the mechanism of the Tibetan medicine sanguotang in treating gouty arthritis through network pharmacology and in vivo experiments

BACKGROUND

We explored the mechanisms of Sanguotang (SGT), a Tibetan medicine, in treating gout arthritis (GA).

METHODS

The main active components, action targets, and disease targets of SGT were identified through TCMSP databases. The gene functions were analyzed using protein interaction (PPI) networks, Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis, and molecular docking. A GA model induced by monosodium urate was established in rats. The ankle joint swelling was observed. The levels of uric acid (UA) and albumin (ALB) in rat serum were measured. Hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining was conducted to examine the pathological changes in rat ankle joints.

RESULTS

Twenty-nine active components of SGT with proven efficacy and 66 intersection targets were identified, primarily involved in inflammation and immune regulation pathways. The PPI results revealed that the key targets of SGT against GA included ALB, IL6, TNF, TP53, and PTGS. Molecular docking showed favorable binding energy between the ALB protein and the active components. The results from animal experiments demonstrated that SGT effectively alleviated the inflammatory reaction in ankle joints, and decreased UA and ALB levels. Furthermore, SGT effectively inhibited the proliferation of synovial cells in the ankle joint cavity, prevented infiltration of inflammatory cells, and protected synovial tissue, thereby improving GA.

CONCLUSIONS

SGT comprehensively contributes to the treatment of GA by regulating UA metabolism, reducing the release of inflammatory factors, and modulating immune and inflammatory pathways.

Curcuma latifolia Roscoe extract reverses inflammatory pain in mice and offers a favorable CNS safety profile

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Curcuma latifolia Roscoe, a plant in the Curcuma genus, has been used as a food additive and folk medicine in Thailand to treat pelvic pain and improve premenstrual syndrome. Although it has been used for centuries, no scientific studies have proved its potential effects on inflammatory pain and central nervous system (CNS) safety profiles.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study aimed to evaluate the potential effects of the ethanolic extract of C. latifolia rhizome on inflammatory pain in mice, together with its CNS safety profiles.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

First, network pharmacology was employed to identify the role of bioactive constituents in C. latifolia on inflammatory pain. In addition, in vitro pharmacology was also evaluated to confirm the anti-inflammatory activity of C. latifolia extract at cellular levels in activated macrophages and microglia. Furthermore, the efficacy of the plant extract in attenuating formalin-induced pain-like behaviors in mice was evaluated. Mice were orally administered the extract (125, 250, 500 mg/kg) followed by the measurement of formalin-induced pain-like behaviors. The LABORAS automated behavioral analysis and rotarod test were used to assess potential CNS side effects of C. latifolia extract (500 mg/kg) in mice.

RESULTS

The results demonstrated that major bioactive constituents present in C. latifolia have the ability to regulate multiple targets, biological processes and pathways associated with inflammatory pain as assessed by network pharmacology. C. latifolia modulated peripheral and central immune cells via reducing proinflammatory mediators (NO, TNF-α, and IL-6). C. latifolia extract improved formalin-induced pain-like behaviors in a dose-dependent manner during phase II of the formalin test. The efficacy of the plant extract at doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg was comparable to that of the positive control (indomethacin 10 mg/kg). Furthermore, the highest therapeutic dose of the extract did not affect motor coordination, exploratory behaviors, general behaviors, and overall well-being of mice, indicating no development of potential CNS adverse effects after administration of the extract.

CONCLUSION

These findings provide novel perspectives on using C. latifolia extract for pain management, considering its therapeutic efficacy and CNS safety.

A Review of Medicinal Plants and Phytochemicals for the Management of Gout

Gout, characterized by elevated uric acid levels, is a common inflammatory joint disease associated with pain, joint swelling, and bone erosion. Existing treatments for gout often result in undesirable side effects, highlighting the need for new, safe, and cost-effective anti-gout drugs. Natural products, including medicinal plants and phytochemicals, have gained attention as potential sources of anti-gout compounds. In this review, we examined articles from 2000 to 2020 using PubMed and Google Scholar, focusing on the effectiveness of medicinal plants and phyto-chemicals in managing gout. Our findings identified 14 plants and nine phytochemicals with anti-gout properties. Notably, Teucrium polium, Prunus avium, Smilax riparia, Rhus coriaria, Foenic-ulum vulgare, Allium cepa, Camellia japonica, and Helianthus annuus exhibited the highest xa-thine oxidase inhibitory activity, attributed to their unique natural bioactive compounds such as phenolics, tannins, coumarins, terpenoids, and alkaloids. Herbal plants and their phytochemicals have demonstrated promising effects in reducing serum urate and inhibiting xanthine. This review aims to report recent studies on plants/phytochemicals derived from herbs beneficial in gout and their different mechanisms.

Kaempferol Attenuates Gouty Arthritis by Regulating the Balance of Th17/Treg Cells and Secretion of IL-17

Kaempferol is a common flavonoid aglycone widely found in plants. It exhibits beneficial therapeutic effects in the treatment of arthritis. However, the effects of kaempferol on gouty arthritis (GA) have not been verified. This study aimed to explore the potential mechanisms by which kaempferol regulates GA by network pharmacology and experimental validation. Potential drug targets for GA were identified with a protein-protein interaction network. Then, we performed a KEGG pathway analysis to elucidate the major pathway involved in the kaempferol-mediated treatment of GA. In addition, the molecular docking was performed. A rat model of GA was constructed to verify the results of network pharmacology analysis and investigate the mechanism of kaempferol against GA. The network pharmacology study indicated that there were 275 common targets of kaempferol and GA treatment. Kaempferol exerted therapeutic effects on GA, in part, by regulating the IL-17, AGE-RAGE, p53, TNF, and FoxO signaling pathways. Molecular docking results showed that kaempferol stably docked with the core MMP9, ALB, CASP3, TNF, VEGFA, CCL2, CXCL8, AKT1, JUN, and INS. Experimental validation suggested that kaempferol eased MSU-induced mechanical allodynia, ankle edema, and inflammation. It significantly suppressed the expression of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, and TGF-β1 and restored Th17/Treg imbalance in MSU-induced rats and IL-6-induced PBMCs. Kaempferol also affected RORγt and Foxp3 through IL-17 pathway. The present study clarifies the mechanism of kaempferol against GA and provides evidence to support its clinical use.

Exploring the inhibition mechanism of interleukin-1-beta in gouty arthritis by polygonum cuspidatum using network pharmacology and molecular docking: A review

Polygonum cuspidatum (Huzhang, HZ) is one of the commonly used traditional Chinese medicines for treating gouty arthritis (GA), but the specific mechanism is not clear. This study employed network pharmacology and molecular docking techniques to examine the molecular mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of HZ on GA. The network pharmacology approach, including active ingredient and target screening, drug-compound-target-disease network construction, protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks, enrichment analysis, and molecular docking, was used to explore the mechanism of HZ against GA. Ten active ingredients of HZ were predicted to interact with 191 targets, 14 of which interact with GA targets. Network pharmacology showed that quercetin, physovenine, luteolin, and beta-sitosterol are the core components of HZ, and IL (interleukin)-1β, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) are the core therapeutic targets. The mechanism of HZ in GA treatment was shown to be related to the IL-17 signaling pathway, NOD-like receptor signaling pathway, and Toll-like receptor signaling pathway, and is involved in the inflammatory response, positive regulation of gene expression, cellular response to lipopolysaccharide, and other biological processes. Molecular docking showed that all four core compounds had good binding properties to IL-1β, with luteolin and beta-sitosterol showing better docking results than anakinra, suggesting that they could be used as natural IL-1β inhibitors in further experimental studies. The mechanism of action of HZ against GA has multi-target and multi-pathway characteristics, which provides an important theoretical basis for the study of the active ingredients of HZ as natural IL-1β inhibitors.

Mechanism Underlying the Action of Berberine in the Treatment of Gouty Arthritis Based on Network Pharmacology

Introduction: Gouty arthritis (GA) is induced by a purine metabolism disorder and monosodium urate (MSU) crystal-related inflammation. Berberine (BBR), extracted from Coptis chinensis, ameliorates MSU-induced GA. However, the mechanisms of BBR against GA remain to be fully elucidated. This study aimed to identify the key targets and pathways mediating the effects of BBR against GA using network pharmacology. Methods: BBR and GA targets were obtained from several databases, and the network of BBR-GA common targets was visualized using Cytoscape software. Protein–protein interaction (PPI), Gene Ontology (GO), and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses were performed using the STRING and Database for Annotation, Visualization, and Integrated Discovery databases, respectively. Animal experiments were performed to determine the outcomes of the BBB intervention. The serum levels of IL-1β, IL-8, and IL-6 were detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: Thirty-three common targets (including NF-κB, RelA, MAPK1, IL-6, and IL-1β) of BBR and GA were identified, and a network of common targets between BBR and GA was constructed. PPI analysis demonstrated that IL-1β, IL-6, TNF, MAPK, and RelA are key targets with high degree values. GO and KEGG pathway analyses revealed the involvement of inflammation-related biological processes and signaling pathways, such as the NF-κB, MAPK, and TNF signaling pathways. Animal experiments demonstrated that the uric acid, IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-8 serum levels were significantly lower in the BBR group compared with those in hyperuricemic rats. Conclusions: Using systematic network analysis, potential targets mediating the effects of BBR on GA were detected. The pathways and inflammatory factors involved were identified using in vivo experiments, thus providing a reference for further basic research and clinical applications of BBR in the treatment of GA.

The genus Porana (Convolvulaceae) - A phytochemical and pharmacological review

There are about 20 species of Porana Burm. f. worldwide in tropical and subtropical Asia, Africa and neighboring islands, Oceania, and the Americas. In China, India, and other places, this genus enjoys a wealth of experience in folk applications. Nevertheless, the chemical composition of only five species has been reported, and 59 compounds have been isolated and identified, including steroids, coumarins, flavonoids, quinic acid derivatives, and amides. Pharmacological studies revealed that extracts from this genus and their bioactive components exhibit anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antioxidant, anti-gout, anti-cancer, and anti-diabetic effects. Although this genus is abundant, the development of its pharmacological applications remains limited. This review will systematically summarize the traditional and current uses, chemical compositions, and pharmacological activities of various Porana species. Network analysis was introduced to compare and confirm its output with current research progress to explore the potential targets and pathways of chemical components in this genus. We hope to increase understanding of this genus’s medicinal value and suggest directions for rational medicinal development.

Treatment of Gout with TCM Using Turmeric and Corn Silk: A Concise Review Article and Pharmacology Network Analysis

OBJECTIVE

This work aimed to study the compounds, targets, and pathways of turmeric and corn silk for gout and to explore the mechanism of "the same disease with different treatments" based on network pharmacology and molecular docking.

METHODS

We used the TCMSP, PubChem, and SEA databases to screen the compounds and targets of turmeric and corn silk, gout-related proteins through TTD, Drugbank, DisGeNET, GeneCards, OMIM, and PharmGkb, and used Cytoscape to construct a "compound-target-disease" network. Then, we constructed a protein-protein interaction network (PPI) and used Metascape to perform GO and KEGG analysis. Finally, molecular docking (SYBYL) was used to verify the degree of binding between key targets and compounds.

RESULTS

We found bisacumol, campesterol, and stigmasterol to be the main turmeric compounds that exerted a marked effect on gout treatment by targeting protein processing in the endoplasmic reticulum through the HSPA1B, HSP90AB1, and STUB1 proteins. The main corn silk compound, Mandenol, treated gout by targeting the Hippo signaling pathway through the CTNNB1, YWHAG, and YWHAZ proteins.

CONCLUSION

Turmeric and corn silk can treat the same disease, gout, through different pathways and targets. The scientific connotation of "same disease with different treatments" can be preliminarily clarified by analyzing targets and pathways.

Study on the effect and mechanism of quercetin in treating gout arthritis

Quercetin is widely found in natural plants, especially Chinese herbal plants. It has been used to treat arthritis in China for thousands of years. However, the effects and mechanisms of quercetin in the treatment of gout arthritis (GA) remain unclear. We aimed to verify the treatment of GA with quercetin and investigate the underlying mechanism. A combination of network pharmacology and experiments was used to reveal the mechanism of quercetin in the treatment of GA. Potential targets of quercetin and gout were identified. Then, the protein-protein interaction network for the common targets between quercetin and gout was constructed and the core targets were identified. Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses for the common targets were performed to elucidate the pharmacological functions and mechanisms associated with quercetin treatment in GA. Finally, a monosodium urate-induced GA rat model was used to validate the predicted mechanisms in network pharmacology. Seventy-two common targets were identified. KEGG analysis revealed that treatment of GA with quercetin predominantly involved the interleukin (IL)-17, tumor necrosis factor (TNF), mitogen-activated protein kinase, and phosphoinositide 3-kinase-Akt signaling pathways. In an experimental validation, quercetin attenuated ankle joint inflammation-induced bone destruction and histological lesions. It also diminished the expression of IL-6, IL-17A, and IL-17F in the IL-17 pathway, and regulated the release of RAR-related orphan receptor gamma t,IL-17E, IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, Foxp3, and transforming growth factor-beta 1. The collective findings implicate quercetin as a valuable alternative drug for the treatment of GA.

Potential therapeutic application of biophenols - plants secondary metabolites in rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease showed that persistent inflammation in the joints, induces the cartilage destruction, bone erosion, and leukocyte infiltration in the synovium. RA mostly affects the joints of hands, feet, wrists, ankles, and knees. Each year, approximately 20-40 new cases are reported per lac population and the disease affects women more than men. The etiology of RA is still unknown, but many pathways have been identified as potential targets in its pathophysiology, including the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, NF-κB signaling, Adenosine signaling, Wnt, SYK/BTK, and mTOR signaling pathways. Biophenol, plant secondary metabolite, is considered one of the most abundantly phytoconstituents to have potential anti-inflammatory effects associated with multiple pathways. These indicate that biophenols can be used for its protective effect on the development and symptoms of RA. The current review explores and discusses the role of different biophenols in the treatment of RA disease.

Investigation of the active ingredients and pharmacological mechanisms of Porana sinensis Hemsl. Against rheumatoid arthritis using network pharmacology and experimental validation

Background

Porana sinensis Hemsl. has been widely used as a substitute for Erycibes Caulis to treat rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). However, little is known about the active ingredients and pharmacological mechanisms that mediate the action of P. sinensis against RA.

Methods

The compounds contained in P. sinensis were analyzed by Q Exactive Focus mass spectrometer. The active constituents and pharmacological mechanism of P. sinensis against RA were clarified using a network pharmacology-based investigation. LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells was used to verify anti-inflammatory effects of the active compounds screened by network pharmacology. Collagen-induced arthritis model was used to further investigate the mechanism of P. sinensis against RA.

Results

The potential components and targets of P. sinensis against RA were analyzed using network pharmacology, and five compounds, twenty-five targets, and eight pathways were identified. Experimental validation suggested that P. sinensis extract and five compounds (esculetin, umbelliferone, trans-N-feruloyltyramine, caffeic acid and scopolin) could inhibit the release of inflammatory mediators (NO, TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6) in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cell. P. sinensis extract attenuated the severity, pathological changes, and release of cytokines (IL-6 and HIF-1α) during RA progression by regulating the PI3K/AKT and HIF-1 pathways.

Conclusion

The study provides a basis for the application of P. sinensis against RA. Our findings may provide suggestions for developing P. sinensis into a substitute for Erycibes Caulis.

Network Pharmacology and Molecular Docking Study of the Chinese Miao Medicine Sidaxue in the Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis

Purpose

This study aimed to investigate the molecular mechanisms of Compound Sidaxue (SX), a prescription of Chinese Miao medicine, in treating rheumatoid arthritis (RA) using network pharmacology and in vivo experimental approaches.

Methods

Network pharmacology was adopted to detect the active components of four Traditional Chinese herbal medicine (TCM) of SX, and the key targets and signaling pathways in the treatment of RA were predicted, and the key components and targets were screened for molecular docking. The predicted targets and pathways were validated in bovine type II collagen and incomplete Freund’s adjuvant emulsifier-induced rat RA model.

Results

In this study, we identified 33 active components from SX, predicted to act on 44 RA-associated targets by network pharmacology. PPI network demonstrated that TNF-α, VEGF-A, IL-2, IL-6, AKT, PI3K, STAT1 may serve as the key targets of SX for the treatment of RA. The main functional pathways involving these key targets include PI3K-AKT signaling pathway, TNF signaling pathway, NF-κB signaling pathway. Molecular docking analysis found that the active components β-amyrin, cajanin, eleutheroside A have high affinity for TNF-α, VEGFA, IL-2, AKT, and PI3K, etc. SX can improve joint swelling in Collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) rats, reduce inflammatory cell infiltration and angiogenesis in joint synovial tissue, and down-regulate IL-2, IL-6, TNF-α, VEGF, PI3K, AKT, p-AKT, NF-κBp65, the expression of p-NF-κBp65, STAT1, and PTGS2 are used to control the exacerbation of inflammation and alleviate the proliferation of synovial pannus, and at the same time play the role of cartilage protection to achieve the effect of treating RA.

Conclusion

Through a network pharmacology approach and animal study, we predicted and validated the active compounds of SX and their potential targets for RA treatment. The results suggest that SX can markedly alleviate CIA rat by modulating the VEGF/PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, TNF-α signaling pathway, IL/NF-κB signaling pathway.

Network Pharmacology-Based Analysis of Gegenqinlian Decoction Regulating Intestinal Microbial Activity for the Treatment of Diarrhea

Gegenqinlian decoction (GD) has been extensively used for the treatment of diarrhea with intestinal dampness-heat syndrome (IDHS) with a satisfying therapeutic effect. The purpose of this study is to clarify the active ingredients and mechanism of GD in the treatment of diarrhea with IDHS. The TCMSP database was used to screen out the active ingredients of the four Chinese herbal medicines in GD, and the targets of the active ingredients were predicted. We selected the targets related to diarrhea through the DisGeNET database, then used the NCBI database to screen out related targets of lactase and sucrase, and constructed the visual network to search for the active ingredients of GD in the treatment of diarrhea and related mechanisms of the targets. Combined with network pharmacology, we screened out 146 active ingredients in GD corresponding to 252 ingredient targets, combined with 328 disease targets in diarrhea, and obtained 12 lactase targets and 11 sucrase targets. The key active ingredients involved quercetin, formononetin, β-sitosterol kaempferol, and wogonin. Furthermore, molecular docking showed that these five potential active ingredients had good affinities with the core targets PTGS2. The active ingredients in GD (such as quercetin, formononetin, and β-sitosterol) may increase the microbial activity of the intestinal mucosa of mice and reduce the microbial activity of the intestinal contents through multiple targets, thereby achieving the effect of treating diarrhea.

Simiao Wan attenuates monosodium urate crystal-induced arthritis in rats through contributing to macrophage M2 polarization

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Simiao Wan (SMW) is a classical traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) prescription to empirically treat gouty arthritis (GA) in TCM clinical practice. However, the potential mechanisms of SMW on GA are not fully evaluated.

AIM OF STUDY

The aim of this study is to investigate the role of macrophage polarization in the anti-GA activity of SMW.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Rats were intragastricly treated with SMW for consecutive 7 days. On day 6, monosodium urate (MSU) crystal-induced arthritis (MIA) in the ankle joint was prepared. Paw volume, gait score and histological score were measured. Levels of interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-10 in serum were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Expressions of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), arginase (Arg)-1, phosphorylated (p)-p65, inhibitor of nuclear factor (NF)-κB (IκB)α, p-signal transducer and transcription activator (STAT)3 and p-Janus kinase (JAK)2 in synovial tissues were determined by Western blot.

RESULTS

The elevated paw volume, gait score and histological score in MIA rats were significantly decreased by SMW treatment. Meanwhile, SMW significantly decreased the IL-1β level and increased the IL-10 level in serum of MIA rats. Furthermore, SMW reduced the expressions of iNOS, p-p65 and enhanced the expressions of Arg-1, IκBα, p-STAT3 and p-JAK2 in synovial tissues of MIA rats.

CONCLUSIONS

The results suggest that SMW attenuates the inflammation in MIA rats through promoting macrophage M2 polarization.

Chemical compositions, pharmacological activities, quality control studies of Erycibes plants, and the development of their substitutes

Erycibes are members of the Convolvulaceae family, including more than 10 species worldwide that are distributed in tropical Asia. Some Erycibes species have long been used as traditional remedies for rheumatoid arthritis, fever, hepatitis, and liver injury in China and Thailand. A total of 152 compounds from Erycibes plants have been isolated and identified, categorized as flavonoids, coumarins, quinic acid derivatives, lignans, and alkaloids. Coumarins are the characteristic and active constituents of this species, including scopoletin and scopolin. Modern pharmacological studies have shown that the extracts and bioactive components of Erycibes plants exhibit several biological activities, including antiinflammatory, analgesic, hepatoprotective, anti-gout, antitumor, antioxidation, and other therapeutic effects. However, in recent years, due to destructive exploitation and utilization, some Erycibes plants' natural resources have become rare or endangered. Developing substitutes is a strategy to alleviate the pressure on those endangered medicinal plant resources. To provide a scientific basis for the development and protection of those threatened Erycibes species, this review summarized the current status of the chemical compositions, pharmacological activities, quality control studies, and the development of substitutes for Erycibes plants. In particular, the rationale for use of Porana sinensis currently on the market is discussed.

Analysis of the Molecular Mechanisms of the Effects of Prunella vulgaris against Subacute Thyroiditis Based on Network Pharmacology

Prunella vulgaris (PV) has a long history of application in traditional Chinese and Western medicine as a remedy for the treatment of subacute thyroiditis (SAT). This study applied network pharmacology to elucidate the mechanism of the effects of PV against SAT. Components of the potential therapeutic targets of PV and SAT-related targets were retrieved from databases. To construct a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network, the intersection of SAT-related targets and PV-related targets was input into the STRING platform. Gene ontology (GO) analysis and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis were carried out using the DAVID database. Networks were constructed by Cytoscape for visualization. The results showed that a total of 11 compounds were identified according to the pharmacokinetic parameters of ADME. A total of 126 PV-related targets and 2207 SAT-related targets were collected, and 83 overlapping targets were subsequently obtained. The results of the KEGG pathway and compound-target-pathway (C-T-P) network analysis suggested that the anti-SAT effect of PV mainly occurs through quercetin, luteolin, kaempferol, and beta-sitosterol and is most closely associated with their regulation of inflammation and apoptosis by targeting the PIK3CG, MAPK1, MAPK14, TNF, and PTGS2 proteins and the PI3K-Akt and TNF signaling pathways. The study demonstrated that quercetin, luteolin, kaempferol, and beta-sitosterol in PV may play a major role in the treatment of SAT, which was associated with the regulation of inflammation and apoptosis, by targeting the PI3K-Akt and TNF signaling pathways.

Exploration of the mechanism of Zisheng Shenqi decoction against gout arthritis using network pharmacology

BACKGROUND

In this study, the network pharmacological methods were used to predict the target of effective components of compounds in Zisheng Shenqi Decoction (ZSD, or Nourishing Kidney Qi Decoction) in the treatment of gouty arthritis (GA).

METHOD

The main effective components and corresponding key targets of herbs in the ZSD were discerned through the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis (TCMSP), Bioinformatics Analysis Tool for Molecular mechanism of Traditional Chinese Medicine (BATMAN-TCM) database. UniProt database and Swiss Target Prediction (STP) database was used to rectify and unify the target names and supply the target information. The targets related to GA were obtained by using GeneCards database. After we discovered the potential common targets between ZSD and GA, the interaction network diagram of "ZSD-component-GA-target" was constructed by Cytoscape software (Version 3.7.1). Subsequently, the Protein-protein interaction (PPI) network of ZSD effective components-targets and GA-related targets was constructed by Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes Database (STRING). Bioconductor package "org.Hs.eg.db" and "cluster profiler" package were installed in R software (Version 3.6.0) which used for Gene Ontology analysis and KEGG (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes) pathway enrichment analysis.

RESULTS

146 components and 613 targets of 11 herbal medicines in the ZSD were got from TCMSP database and BATMAN-TCM database. 987 targets of GA were obtained from GeneCards database. After intersected and removed duplications, 132 common targets between ZSD and GA were screened out by Cytoscape software (Version 3.7.1). These common targets derived from 81 effective components of 146 components, such as quercetin, stigmasterol and kaempferol. They were closely related to anti-inflammatory, analgesic and anti oxidative stress and the principal targets comprised of Purinergic receptor P2X, ligand-gated ion channel 7 (P2x7R), Nod-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) and IL-1β. GO enrichment analysis and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis by R software (Version 3.6.0) showed that the key target genes had close relationship with oxidative stress, reactive oxygen species (ROS) metabolic process and leukocyte migration in aspects of biological process, cell components and molecular function. It also indicated that ZSD could decrease inflammatory reaction, alleviate ROS accumulation and attenuate pain by regulating P2 × 7R and NOD like receptor signaling pathway of inflammatory reaction.

CONCLUSION

A total of 81 effective components and 132 common target genes between ZSD and GA were screened by network pharmacology. The PPI network, GO enrichment analysis and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis suggested that ZSD can exerte anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects on the treatment of GA by reducing decreasing inflammatory reaction, alleviating ROS accumulation, and attenuating pain. The possible molecular mechanism of it mainly involved multiple components, multiple targets and multiple signaling pathways, which provided a comprehensive understanding for further study. In general, the network pharmacological method applied in this study provides an alternative strategy for the mechanism of ZSD in the treatment of GA.

Network Pharmacology Identifies the Mechanisms of Sang-Xing-Zhi-Ke-Fang against Pharyngitis

Background

Sang-Xing-Zhi-Ke-Fang (SXZKF) demonstrates good therapeutic effect against pharyngitis. Nevertheless, the pharmacological mechanism underlying its effectiveness is still unclear.

Objective

To investigate the underlying mechanisms of SXZKF against pharyngitis using network pharmacology method.

Methods

Bioactive ingredients of SXZKF were collected and screened using published literature and two public databases. Using four public databases, the overlapping genes between these bioactive compound-related and pharyngitis-related genes were identified by Venn diagram. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) was obtained using “Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes (STRING)” database. “Database for Annotation, Visualization, and Integrated Discovery ver. 6.8 (DAVID 6.8)” was used to perform Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis to explore the molecular mechanisms of SXZKF against pharyngitis. Finally, Cytoscape 3.7.2 software was used to construct and visualize the networks.

Result

A total of 102 bioactive compounds were identified. Among them, 886 compounds-related and 6258 pharyngitis-related genes were identified, including 387 overlapping genes. Sixty-three core targets were obtained, including ALB, PPARγ, MAPK3, EGF, and PTGS2. Signaling pathways closely related to mechanisms of SXZKF for pharyngitis were identified, including serotonergic synapse, VEGF signaling pathway, Fc epsilon RI signaling pathway, Ras signaling pathway, MAPK signaling pathway, and influenza A.

Conclusion

This is the first identification of in-depth study of SXZKF against pharyngitis using network pharmacology. This new evidence could be informative in providing new support on the clinical effects of SXZKF on pharyngitis and for the development of personalized medicine for pharyngitis.