Jiegeng Gancao Decoction Ameliorates Ulcerative Colitis: An Integrative Approach Combining Network Pharmacology and Proteomics via in silico and in vivo studies.

BACKGROUND

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory condition of the colon that significantly affects the quality of life of patients. Although current treatments offer some relief, they are often accompanied by side effects and limited long-term efficacy. Jiegeng Gancao Decoction (JGD), a Chinese classical prescription composed of Platycodon and Licorice, are potential alternative treatments with minimal side effects.

PURPOSE

This present study aimed to establish a novel strategy for herbal medicine research, using JGD as a case study to improve the prediction efficiency and accuracy of network pharmacology and leveraging big data to accelerate herbal medicine research and development.

STUDY DESIGN

Given the unmet clinical needs in the treatment of UC and the promising potential of JGD, this study integrated chemical profiling, network pharmacology predictions, and proteomic analysis to establish a model to explore the therapeutic mechanisms of JGD for the treatment of UC.

METHODS

UHPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap/MS was used to analyze the chemical components of JGD and its serum metabolites. Big data and network pharmacology were used to predict targets and pathways. A mouse model of DSS-induced colitis was established and were administered by JGD orally at 1.85 mg/kg daily. Therapeutic outcomes were evaluated through colon length detection, body weight monitoring, Disease Activity Index (DAI) scoring, and histopathological assessments. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), proteomics, flow cytometry, and western blotting were used to explore the underlying mechanism of the anti-colitis effects of JGD.

RESULTS

The chemical composition of JGD was analyzed to identify key bioactive compounds using UHPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap/MS. These compounds were evaluated using big data and network pharmacology, incorporating four data sources. Compounds were sourced from Herb: 102, Serum: 21, Review: 117, and Database: 99. This integration generated 72 combos and 864 datasets related to the Gene, Gene Ontology (GO), and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways. JGD treatment significantly attenuated DSS-induced colitis in mice by improving body weight, colon length, inflammatory response, and intestinal barrier. Furthermore, proteomics and western blotting experiments confirmed that JGD attenuated DSS-induced down-regulated protein levels of SLC6A14 and RAGE. By screening the components of JGD via docking with RAGE and SLC6A14, Glycyrrhetic acid 3-O-glucuronide, Kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside, and Glyasperin A were identified as the main pharmacological substances that underlie the anti-colitis effects of JGD.

CONCLUSION

Combining data from herb extracts and sources from the literature significantly improved prediction efficiency and accuracy. The results highlight the therapeutic potential of JGD in UC, demonstrating its ability to modulate key inflammatory and metabolic pathways. This integrative approach advances the understanding of the potential effects of JGD and supports the broader application of network pharmacology with big data in research and development of herbal medicine.