摘要
Background:To explore the action mechanism of Huangqi(Radix Astragali)and Shanzhuyu(Fructus Corni)in the treatment of diabetic nephropathy based on network pharmacology,aiming to provide a basis for clinical application.Methods:The main active components of Huangqi and Shanzhuyu were discerned through the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform(TCMSP),Traditional Chinese Medicine Integrated Database(TCMID).The targets related to diabetic nephropathy(DN)were obtained using Genecards,Therapeutic Target Database(TTD),and National Center for Biotechnology Information(NCBI)Gene.Subsequently,protein-protein interaction(PPI)networks were constructed with Cytoscape 3.7.2 and the STRING database.Gene Ontology(GO)and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)pathway analyses were performed to analyze the intersection of targets via Database for Annotation,Visualization,and Integrated Discovery(DAVID)6.8.Built on the above analysis,we made a“Chinese medicine-chemical composition-target gene-disease”network.Results:Twenty-one active components were predicted from the Huangqi and Shanzhuyu herb pair,such as jaranol,mandenol and sitosterol.These components were applied to 41 targets mainly involved in many biological processes such as the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway,vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)signaling pathway,regulation of sodium ion transport and steroid-binding.Conclusion:This study proposes the network pharmacology method and identifies the potent combination therapeutic mechanism of Huangqi and Shanzhuyu for diabetic nephropathy(DN)through multiple targets and routes,this strategy will lay a good foundation for further in-depth study of the mechanism of action.
