NATURAL PRODUCT RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ›› 2024, Vol. 36 ›› Issue (8): 1420-1431.doi: 10.16333/j.1001-6880.2024.8.016

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Anti-inflammatory mechanism of Laggerae Herba based on network pharmacology

ZHOU Yong-zhi1,SHU Teng-yun1,SONG Yu-ying1,ZHENG Li-xiong2,LI Hai-zhou1*   

  1. 1Kunming University of Science and Technology,Faculty of Life Science and Technology,Kunming 650500,China;2National Engineering Research Center for Modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine,Weihe Pharmaceutical Co.,Ltd.,Yuxi 653101,China
  • Online:2024-08-28 Published:2024-08-29

Abstract:

This study aims to analyze the components and target pathways of the ethyl acetate fraction of Laggerae Herba (ELH)  based on LC-MS and network pharmacology,exploring its anti-inflammatory mechanisms in vitro using an lipopolysaccharides(LPS)-induced RAW 264.7 inflammatory model.The anti-inflammatory activities of various extracts of Laggerae Herba were assessed using the Griess assay.Additionally,LC-MS was utilized to analyze the chemical components of ELH.Network pharmacology aided in predicting and screening the core components,target genes,and principal pathways that mediate anti-inflammatory effects,which were then confirmed through molecular docking and Western blot analysis. Results from the Griess assay demonstrated that ELH significantly inhibited NO release in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells,achieving an inhibition rate of 103.07% and identifying it as the active fraction.LC-MS analysis revealed 23 chemical components in ELH,including 21 sesquiterpenes,one flavonoid,and one organic acid.Using four different databases,66 common targets were identified.Protein-protein interaction (PPI) analysis pinpointed six core targets,including interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF),each with a degree value exceeding 40.GO and KEGG enrichment analyses indicated that these core targets could modulate anti-inflammatory effects through the PI3K-Akt,IL-17,NF-κB,and TNF signaling pathways.Molecular docking confirmed the strong binding affinity of the 23 chemical components to the core targets.Western blot results indicated significant reductions in Akt phosphorylation and NF-κB expression post-ELH treatment (P<0.05).In conclusion,ELH can inhibit Akt phosphorylation and,to a certain extent,suppress the activation of the NF-κB signaling pathway induced by LPS in RAW 264.7 cells,thereby exerting potent anti-inflammatory effects.

Key words: Laggerae Herba, network pharmacology, inflammation, molecular docking, LC-MS analysis

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