Investigation of the mechanism of Bark of Ailanthus altissima in the treatment of ulcerative colitis based on network pharmacology and experimental verification.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

The bark of Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) Swingle (BAA), a widely used Chinese medicinal herb in traditional remedies for bowel disorders, has yet to be explored in the context of ulcerative colitis (UC), and its therapeutic mechanisms remain unclear.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study integrated network pharmacology and experimental validation to investigate the effects and underlying mechanisms of BAA in treating UC.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

First, UPLC-MS/MS analysis was employed to identify the chemical constituents of BAA. Network pharmacology was then applied to analyze the potential mechanisms of BAA based on these identified compounds. Lastly, a dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced UC mouse model was utilized to assess BAA's therapeutic efficacy, with Western blotting performed to examine changes in protein expression within the key pathway influenced by BAA.

RESULTS

UPLC-MS/MS and SwissADME analysis identified 223 active compounds in BAA. Network pharmacology suggested that the PI3K/AKT pathway may serve as a primary mechanism by which BAA exerts its anti-UC effects. In the DSS-induced UC mouse model, BAA significantly mitigated colonic injury, reduced DAI scores, and promoted weight recovery in mice. Additionally, BAA downregulated pro-inflammatory cytokines, including TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6, thereby suppressing inflammatory responses in the colon. Western blot analysis further demonstrated that BAA primarily inhibited the PI3K/AKT pathway in UC mouse colon tissue.

CONCLUSION

This study highlights that BAA effectively reduces colonic inflammation and preserves intestinal mucosal integrity, likely through the inhibition of PI3K/AKT pathway activity, positioning it as a potential treatment for UC.