A Network Pharmacology Approach to Explore Mechanism of Action of Longzuan Tongbi Formula on Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Longzuan Tongbi Formula (LZTB) is an effective proved prescription in Zhuang medicine for treating active rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, its active ingredients, underlying targets, and pharmacological mechanism are still not clear in treating RA. We have applied network pharmacology to study LZTB and found that 8 herbs in LZTB and 67 compounds in the 8 herbs are involved in the regulation of RA-related genes; we have conducted pathway analysis of overlapping genes and found that 7 herbs participate in the regulations of 24 pathways associated with RA and that 5 herbs in the 7 herbs and 25 compounds in the 5 herbs participate in the regulation of hsa05323 (rheumatoid arthritis). The results indicated that all herbs in LZTB and some compounds in those herbs participate in the treatment of RA; 25 compounds are main active ingredients and hsa05323 (rheumatoid arthritis) is the major pathway in the treatment of RA. We have also found that three pathways (inflammatory mediator regulation of TRP channels, PPAR signaling pathway, and mTOR signaling pathway) might have some effect on the treatment of RA.