Zhang LB, Yan Y, Ma R, Li DX, Yin WF, Tao QW, Xu Y. Integrated phytochemistry and network pharmacology analysis to reveal effective substances and mechanisms of Bushen Quhan Zhiwang decoction in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.
J Ethnopharmacol 2024;
325:117897. [PMID:
38336180 DOI:
10.1016/j.jep.2024.117897]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2023] [Revised: 01/28/2024] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE
Bushen Quhan Zhiwang decoction (BQZD), a formula in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), effectively delays bone destruction in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. However, its chemical constituents, absorbed components, and metabolites remain unrevealed, and its mechanism in treating bone destruction in RA needs further investigation.
AIM OF THE STUDY
Our objective is to identify the chemical constituents, absorbed components, and metabolites of BQZD and explore the potential mechanisms of BQZD in treating bone destruction in RA.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
This study systematically identified the chemical constituents, absorbed components, and metabolites of BQZD using ultra-performance liquid chromatography with Q-Exactive Orbitrap mass spectrometry combined with parallel reaction monitoring. The absorbed components and metabolites were subjected to network pharmacology analysis to predict the potential mechanisms of BQZD in treating bone destruction in RA. The in vivo anti-osteoclastogenic and underlying mechanism were further verified in collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) rats.
RESULTS
A total of 182 compounds were identified in BQZD, 27 of which were absorbed into plasma and organs and 42 metabolites were identified in plasma and organs. The KEGG analysis revealed that MAPK signaling pathway was highly prioritized. BQZD treatment attenuated paw swelling and the arthritis index; suppressed synovial hyperplasia, bone destruction, and osteoclast differentiation; and inhibited the levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 in CIA rats. Mechanically, BQZD significantly decreased the protein expression levels of TRAF6, NFATc1, p-JNK, and p-p38, which might be related to 9 absorbed components and 1 metabolite.
CONCLUSION
This study revealed the key active components and metabolites of BQZD. BQZD exhibits bone-protective effects via TRAF6/p38/JNK MAPK pathway, which may be associated with 9 absorbed components and 1 metabolite.
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