Wang Ting, Xia Haixiong, Zhu Jingyi, Yu Mingyou, Zhang Ziyi, Lu Junhou, Zhou Wei, Xu Jianwei
Center for Tissue Engineering and Stem Cell Research, Guizhou Medical University, Guian New District, Guiyang, 561113, China.
School of Pharmacy, Guizhou Medical University, Guian New District, Guiyang, 561113, China.
Sci Rep. 2025 Aug 16;15(1):30005. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-16053-x.
Toad clothing (toad slough) detoxifies, reduces oedema and analgesia, is anti-inflammatory and anti-tumour, and regulates the immune system. Toad clothing's mechanism is unclear. The molecular mechanism of toad clothing in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) therapy will be investigated in this research. We used Ultra-Performance Liquid Chromatography-Quadrupole Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF/MS), network pharmacology, molecular docking, and in vitro experiments to investigate the mechanism behind the anti-RA action of toad apparel. First, UPLC-Q-TOF/MS revealed 24 toad clothing ingredients. Network pharmacology predicted five key elements, six core targets, and the Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase/ Protein Kinase B (PI3K/AKT) signalling pathway. Then, molecular docking was used to validate the binding ability of core chemical constituents and core targets of toad clothing. The results showed that the primary constituent, resibufogenin, was bound tightly to six core targets and had a good affinity for key RA targets such as Phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate 3-kinase catalytic subunit alpha (PIK3CA), Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR), and Janus Kinase 2 (JAK2). Cellular tests demonstrated that resibufogenin dramatically lowered Tumour Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNF-α), Interleukin-6 (IL-6), and Interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) levels and regulated the PI3K/AKT signalling pathway. This research showed toad clothing's anti-RA pharmacodynamic material basis and mechanism, offering a theoretical foundation for its creation, use, and clinical application.
蟾衣(蟾蜍蜕下的皮)具有解毒、消肿、止痛、抗炎、抗肿瘤以及调节免疫系统的作用。蟾衣的作用机制尚不清楚。本研究将探讨蟾衣治疗类风湿关节炎(RA)的分子机制。我们采用超高效液相色谱-四极杆飞行时间质谱(UPLC-Q-TOF/MS)、网络药理学、分子对接以及体外实验来研究蟾衣抗RA作用的机制。首先,UPLC-Q-TOF/MS鉴定出24种蟾衣成分。网络药理学预测出5个关键成分、6个核心靶点以及磷脂酰肌醇3激酶/蛋白激酶B(PI3K/AKT)信号通路。然后,利用分子对接验证蟾衣核心化学成分与核心靶点的结合能力。结果显示,主要成分脂蟾毒配基与6个核心靶点紧密结合,对类风湿关节炎关键靶点如磷脂酰肌醇-4,5-二磷酸3激酶催化亚基α(PIK3CA)、表皮生长因子受体(EGFR)和Janus激酶2(JAK2)具有良好的亲和力。细胞实验表明,脂蟾毒配基显著降低肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNF-α)、白细胞介素-6(IL-6)和白细胞介素-1β(IL-1β)水平,并调节PI3K/AKT信号通路。本研究揭示了蟾衣抗RA的药效物质基础和作用机制,为其研发、应用及临床实践提供了理论依据。