Unveiling the prescription patterns and mechanisms of Chinese herbal compound patents in the management of acute appendicitis: A data mining investigation

doi:10.5246/jcps.2025.06.043

Abstract

Abstract:

In the present study, data mining and network pharmacology were utilized to explore the principles and mechanisms of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in treating acute appendicitis. The goal was to provide a scientific basis for clinical treatment and further research on this disease. First, we searched the National Patent Database for Chinese herbal compound prescriptions used to treat acute appendicitis. We then applied frequency analysis, character and taste meridian analysis, association rule analysis, and hierarchical cluster analysis to identify the patterns of TCM treatment for acute appendicitis, selecting key combinations of Chinese medicines. Next, we screened the main active components of these key TCM based on quality markers. Using databases such as SwissTargetPrediction, SymMap, ETCM, and STRING, we analyzed the pharmacological mechanisms of these key TCM in treating acute appendicitis. Key active components and targets were further verified through molecular docking. We identified a total of 129 patents involving 316 Chinese medicines, with 24 being frequently used. The results indicated that most Chinese herbs used for acute appendicitis were heat-clearing drugs, blood-activating and stasis-removing drugs, and purging drugs. The primary active ingredients of the Rhubarb-cortex moutan-flos lonicerae combination for treating acute appendicitis included Emodin, Paeonol, Physcion, Chlorogenic acid, Chrysophanol, Rhein acid, and Aloe-emodin. These ingredients targeted key proteins such as ALB, TP53, BCL2, STAT3, IL-6, and TNF, and were involved in cellular responses to lipopolysaccharides, cell composition, and various cytokine-mediated biological processes. They also interacted with signaling pathways like AGE-RAGE, TNF, IL-17, and FoxO. Based on patent data, this study analyzed medication patterns in the treatment of acute appendicitis, discussed the possible mechanisms of key TCM combinations, and provided a scientific basis and new perspectives for the diagnosis and treatment of the disease.

Key words: Acute appendicitis, Data mining, Rule of composition, Hierarchical clustering, Molecular docking

Supporting:

Yuewen Li, Qinsheng Zhang, Suqin Hu. Unveiling the prescription patterns and mechanisms of Chinese herbal compound patents in the management of acute appendicitis: A data mining investigation[J]. Journal of Chinese Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2025, 34(6): 566-580.

Figures/Tables 13

Table 1. Statistics of high-frequency TCM use.

Table 2. Efficacy analysis of high-frequency Chinese materia medica.

Table 3. Association rule information (Top 15 items in support order).

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