Exploration on Mechanism of Xiaoer Zhixiao Pingchuan Granules in the Treatment of Pediatric Asthma Based on Network Pharmacology and Experimental Validation / 中国中医药信息杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To explore the potential mechanism underlying the treatment of pediatric asthma using Xiaoer Zhixiao Pingchuan Granules through network pharmacology analysis and animal experimental validation.Methods Active components and their associated targets in Xiaoer Zhixiao Pingchuan Granules were identified through screening and retrieval of TCMSP,BATMAN-TCM,and UniProt databases.Disease-related targets for pediatric asthma were selected from GeneCards,DisGeNET,and OMIM databases.The target protein-protein interaction(PPI)relationship between the intersecting targets of the two was obtained through the STRING database,and import it into Cytoscape 3.8.0 software to construct a PPI network.GO and KEGG enrichment analyses were conducted using the Metascape platform to identify potential pathways.An asthmatic mouse model was induced by ovalbumin,and different concentrations of Xiaoer Zhixiao Pingchuan Granules were administered as interventions.Histopathological changes were evaluated using HE staining and PAS staining,and the network pharmacology findings were validated through Western blot analysis.Results A total of 154 active ingredients targeting 283 pediatric asthma-related genes were identified in Xiaoer Zhixiao Pingchuan Granules.KEGG enrichment analyses revealed significant enrichment of signaling pathways such as the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway,TNF signaling pathway,and MAPK signaling pathway among intersection targets.Thirteen key targets were identified through topological analysis of ingredients-targets-pathways network.Animal experiments demonstrated that Xiaoer Zhixiao Pingchuan Granules significantly alleviated ovalbumin-induced airway inflammation and goblet cell hyperplasia,while downregulating the expression of key proteins in the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway(P<0.05).Conclusion The therapeutic efficacy of Xiaoer Zhixiao Pingchuan Granules in pediatric asthma involves a multi-pathway and multi-target mechanism,with the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway emerging as a potential key molecular target.