Mechanism of Tripterygium hypoglaucum Radix-Leonurus japonicus Herba for Treating Rheumatoid Arthritis Based on Network Pharmacology / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:Computer network pharmacology technology was used to screen the main active ingredients of Tripterygium hypoglaucum radix-Leonurus japonicus herba for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis(RA), predict the targets of the active ingredients, establish a pharmaceutical ingredient-active ingredient-target network, and further explore the potential mechanism of Tripterygium hypoglaucum radix-Leonurus japonicus herba for the treatment of RA. Method:RA disease targets were collected through DisGeNET, TTD, and Drugbank databases, the potential active components of Tripterygium hypoglaucum radix and Leonurus japonicus herba and their corresponding targets were obtained from the Chinese Medicine System Pharmacology Analysis Platform (TCMSP); common targets for drugs and diseases were screened by using the ImageGP platform; a common target interaction (PPI) network model was constructed by using the String database, a "drug-active ingredient-key target" network was constructed by using Cytoscape software, a protein interaction network was constructed by using the String database, gene function (GO) analysis and pathway enrichment analysis based on the Kyoto Gene and Genomic Encyclopedia (KEGG) were performed by using the ClueGO plug-in. Result:Through screening, 9 active pharmaceutical ingredients were obtained, involving a total of 235 targets, and 7 active ingredients were related to the disease targets. 24 common targets for Tripterygium hypoglaucum radix Leonurus japonicus herba-disease were obtained. The common targets were mainly enriched in 278 biological processes and 141 signaling pathways to play a role in the treatment of RA. Conclusion:The therapeutic effect of Tripterygium hypoglaucum radix Leonurus japonicus herba on RA reflects the characteristics of multi-component-multi-target-multi-channel of traditional Chinese medicine, and provides a scientific basis for explaining its mechanism and clinical application of RA.