Elucidating the mechanism of Wuji powder in polycystic ovary syndrome treatment: a network pharmacology approach

doi:10.5246/jcps.2024.10.069

Abstract

Abstract:

To elucidate the potential mechanism of Wuji powder in treating polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), this study utilized TCMSP database to screen the active ingredients of each constituent drug in Wuji powder. Subsequently, we predicted the target proteins associated with these active ingredients. In parallel, we employed the GeneCards database to identify genes related to PCOS and determined the intersection of drug targets and disease targets using the online tool available at http://bioinformatics.psb.ugent.be/webtools/Venn/. The shared genes were considered as the target proteins of Wuji powder in the treatment of PCOS. Utilizing the String website, we constructed a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network diagram and identified key protein modules and hub genes within the PPI network using Cytoscape 3.7.1 software. Further analysis in the DAVID database involved GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses of the genes within the identified key modules. Our investigation revealed a total of 63 active ingredients in Wuji powder with potential therapeutic effects on PCOS, corresponding to 266 drug targets. Intersection with PCOS-related disease targets yielded 174 shared targets. Ten key modules and ten hub genes (TNF, MMP9, AKT1, ECG, VEGFA, PTGS2, IL-6, MAPK3, STAT3, and CXCL8) were identified through network analysis. KEGG pathway enrichment analysis uncovered 58 signaling pathways, including TNF, MAPK, and PI3K-Akt signaling pathways. GO functional annotation delineated five cellular components (CC), nine molecular functions (MF), and 58 biological processes (BP). Noteworthy findings included extracellular space, enzyme binding, and drug response among CC, MF, and BP categories, respectively. These results collectively suggested that Wuji powder might exert its therapeutic effects on PCOS by modulating the TNF/PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.

Key words: Polycystic ovary syndrome, Network pharmacology, Wuji powder, Inflammation, Insulin resistance

Supporting:

Wenxia Fan, Shaojie Li, Fang Wang, Yindan Li, Jinji Yang, Wenguang Song, Hao Fu. Elucidating the mechanism of Wuji powder in polycystic ovary syndrome treatment: a network pharmacology approach[J]. Journal of Chinese Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2024, 33(10): 965-976.

Figures/Tables 4

References 26

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