Network pharmacology—Deciphering the molecular mechanism of San-Zi-Yang-Qin decoction for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Abstract

Abstract Introduction San-Zi-Yang-Qin Decoction (SZYQD) is a common traditional Chinese herbal medicine, which has been used for centuries in the treatment of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases (COPD). In order to investigate the molecular mechanism of SZYQD in the treatment of COPD, we analyzed the effective active ingredients, potential targets, cooperative functions and associated pathways based on network pharmacology. Methods Active ingredients were collected and identified to predict their targets from TCMSP database. Predicted targets related to COPD were screened with CTD to establish a Drugs-components-targets network and Proteins interactions network using STRING Database and Cytoscape software. Action targets were highlighted by pictures of correlative pathways using KEGG PATHWAY Database. Results 29 effectively active ingredients were filtered out, including Stigmasterol, beta-carotene, beta-sitosterol, luteolin, linolenic acid, METHYL LINOLEATE, etc. There were 170 targets predicted and all of them were related to COPD, including Heme oxygenase 1 (HMOX1), Glutathione S-transferase P 1 (GSTP1), Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), Apoptosis regulator Bcl-2 (Bcl-2), Extracellular regulated protein kinases (ERK), Transcription factor p65 (RELA), NF-kappa-B inhibitor alpha (NFKBIA), Matrix metalloprotease (MMP), Cellular tumor antigen p53 (TP53), Caspase, Muscarinic acetylcholine receptor M1-5 (CHRM1-5), etc, enriched with a number of relevant GO functions and KEGG pathways. Conclusion SZYQD may regulate the Cholinergic synapse, Th17 cell differentiation, Fluid shear stress and atherosclerosis, Apoptosis, PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, NF-κB signaling pathway, TNF signaling pathway, C-type lectin receptor signaling pathway and so on, to resist oxidation, diminish inflammation, balance proliferation and apoptosis of cells, inhibit vagal excitation in the treatment of COPD.