College of Biological and Food Engineering, Anhui Polytechnic University, Wuhu, Anhui 241000, China; School of Biological and Food Engineering, Engineering Research Center for Development and High Value Utilization of Genuine Medicinal Materials in North Anhui Province, Suzhou University, Suzhou, Anhui 234000, China.
School of Biological and Food Engineering, Engineering Research Center for Development and High Value Utilization of Genuine Medicinal Materials in North Anhui Province, Suzhou University, Suzhou, Anhui 234000, China.
Phytomedicine. 2024 Jul;129:155565. doi: 10.1016/j.phymed.2024.155565. Epub 2024 Mar 22.
Paeonia lactiflora Pall. (PL) is widely used in China as a homologous plant of medicine and food. PL flower is rich in bioactive substances with anti-inflammatory effects, while the pathogenesis of skin inflammation is complex and the specific mechanism is not clear, the current treatment of skin inflammation is mainly hormonal drugs, and hormonal drugs have obvious toxic side effects. The research on the treatment of skin inflammation by PL flowers is relatively small, so this study provides a basis for the development and utilisation of PL resources.
Our study was to investigate the interventional effects of PL flower extracts on skin inflammation and thus to understand its functional role in the treatment of skin inflammation and its molecular mechanisms.
The major active substances in PL flower extracts were investigated by the HPLC-DAD method, and the potential targets of action were predicted by network pharmacology, which was combined with in vitro experimental validation to explore the mechanism of PL flower extracts on the regulation of skin inflammation. The HPLC-DAD analysis identified seven major active components in PL flower extracts, and in response to the results, combined with the potential mechanism of network pharmacological prediction with skin inflammation, the PL flower extract is closely related to MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathways. In addition, we also investigated the interventional effects of PL flower extract on skin inflammation by western blot detection of MAPK signaling pathway and NF-κB signaling pathway proteins in cells.
Seven active components were identified and quantified from the extract of PL flowers, including Gallic acid, 1,2,3,4,6-O-Pentagalloylglucose, Oxypaeoniflorin, Paeoniflorin, Albiflorin, Benzoyloxypeoniflorin, and Rutin. It was predicted targets for the treatment of skin inflammation, with PPI showing associations with targets such as TNF, MAPK1, and IL-2. KEGG enrichment analysis revealed that the main signaling pathways involved included MAPK and T cell receptor signaling pathways. Cell experiments showed that the peony flower extract could inhibit the release of NO and inflammatory factors, as well as reduce ROS levels and inhibit cell apoptosis. Furthermore, the extract was found to inhibit the activation of the MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathways in cells.
In this study, we found that PL flower extract can inhibit the production of cell inflammatory substances, suppress the release of inflammatory factors, and deactivate inflammatory signaling pathways, further inhibiting the production of cell inflammation. This indicates that PL flower extract has a therapeutic effect on skin inflammation.
牡丹皮（Paeonia lactiflora Pall.）在中国被广泛用作同源药用植物和食品。牡丹花富含具有抗炎作用的生物活性物质，而皮肤炎症的发病机制复杂，具体机制尚不清楚，目前皮肤炎症的治疗主要是激素类药物，而激素类药物具有明显的毒副作用。关于牡丹花治疗皮肤炎症的研究相对较少，因此本研究为牡丹皮资源的开发利用提供了依据。
本研究旨在探讨牡丹皮提取物对皮肤炎症的干预作用，从而了解其在治疗皮肤炎症中的功能作用及其分子机制。
采用高效液相色谱-二极管阵列检测法（HPLC-DAD）对牡丹皮提取物中的主要活性成分进行分析，采用网络药理学预测作用靶点，并结合体外实验验证，探讨牡丹皮提取物对皮肤炎症的调控机制。HPLC-DAD 分析鉴定了牡丹皮提取物中的 7 种主要活性成分，根据结果结合网络药理学预测的皮肤炎症潜在机制，牡丹皮提取物与 MAPK 和 NF-κB 信号通路密切相关。此外，我们还通过 Western blot 检测细胞中 MAPK 信号通路和 NF-κB 信号通路蛋白，研究了牡丹皮提取物对皮肤炎症的干预作用。
从牡丹皮提取物中鉴定并定量了 7 种活性成分，包括没食子酸、1,2,3,4,6-O-五没食子酰葡萄糖、氧化芍药苷、芍药苷、白芍苷、苯甲酰氧化芍药苷和芦丁。这些成分是治疗皮肤炎症的潜在靶点，与 TNF、MAPK1 和 IL-2 等靶点具有 PPI 关联。KEGG 富集分析显示，主要涉及的信号通路包括 MAPK 和 T 细胞受体信号通路。细胞实验表明，牡丹皮提取物能抑制 NO 和炎症因子的释放，降低 ROS 水平，抑制细胞凋亡。此外，该提取物还能抑制细胞中 MAPK 和 NF-κB 信号通路的激活。
本研究发现，牡丹皮提取物能抑制细胞炎症物质的产生，抑制炎症因子的释放，使炎症信号通路失活，从而抑制细胞炎症的产生。这表明牡丹皮提取物对皮肤炎症具有治疗作用。
