Mechanisms of Xiaochaihu Decoction on Treating Hepatic Fibrosis Explored by Network Pharmacology

Disease Markers, 2022 · DOI: https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/8925637 · Published: October 4, 2022

Alternative Medicine Pharmacology Gastroenterology

Simple Explanation

This study explores how Xiaochaihu Decoction (XCHD), a traditional Chinese medicine, can help with hepatic fibrosis (HF) by looking at its chemical components and how they interact with the body. The researchers used databases and computer models to find the active ingredients in XCHD and predict which targets in the body they might affect to alleviate HF. The study suggests that certain compounds like quercetin, β-sitosterol, and kaempferol in XCHD may help relieve HF by acting on multiple targets and biological pathways.

Study Duration

Not specified

Participants

Not specified

Evidence Level

Not specified

Key Findings

1
164 potential active compounds from XCHD were screened to act on 95 HF-related targets.
2
Quercetin, β-sitosterol, and kaempferol may be candidate agents, which acted on multiple targets like PTGS2, HSP90AA1, and PTGS1.
3
Molecular docking suggested that quercetin and PTGS2 could statically bind and interact with each other through amino acid residues val-349, LEU-352, PHE-381, etc.

Research Summary

This work provides a systems perspective to study the relationship between Chinese medicines and diseases. The therapeutic eﬃcacy of XCHD on HF was the sum of multitarget and multi-approach eﬀects from the bioactive ingredients. This study could be one of the cornerstones for further research.

Practical Implications

Drug Development

The identification of active compounds and their targets can aid in developing new drugs for hepatic fibrosis.

Clinical Application

The study provides a basis for understanding how XCHD works, potentially leading to better clinical use.

Further Research

The findings suggest specific pathways and targets for future in vivo and in vitro studies to validate the mechanism of XCHD.

Study Limitations

1
Research data from diﬀerent online databases was based on the reviewed and predicted data.
2
Those unproven, undocumented, and unupdated compounds or targets may not be included in our analysis.
3
Next step, we will carry out in vivo and in vitro experiments focusing on the stability test, pharmacodynamic evaluation, omics techniques, and pathway validation

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