Haibo Tan , Shan Zhang , Ziyu Wang , Zhihao Zhang , Jianyong Zhang , Ertao Jia
{"title":"Combining transcriptomics and network pharmacology to reveal the mechanisms of QuZhuoHuaYu decoction ameliorating gouty arthritis","authors":"Haibo Tan , Shan Zhang , Ziyu Wang , Zhihao Zhang , Jianyong Zhang , Ertao Jia","doi":"10.1016/j.fitote.2025.106744","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>QuZhuoHuaYu decoction (QZHY), a traditional Chinese medicine, has demonstrated a potential effect in gouty arthritis (GA) treatment, but its underlying mechanisms have yet to be fully elucidated. In this study, a strategy of UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap-MS/MS, transcriptomics, and network pharmacology combined with experimental verification was conducted to explore the constituents and the potential mechanisms of QZHY. A total of 26 compounds were identified from QZHY. Furthermore, QZHY significantly reduced the swelling index and inflammatory cell infiltration, and restrained macrophage M1 polarization and NLRP3/IL-1β pathway in ankle joints of GA mice. According to network pharmacology and transcriptomic analysis, it found NF-κB, HIF-1, and neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) formation pathways are the potential pathways for QZHY against GA. Experimental verification revealed that QZHY treatment inhibited NF-κB, HIF-1, and NET formation pathways in GA mice. In conclusion, QZHY ameliorates inflammation in GA mice, which may be associated with the inhibition of NLRP3, NF-κB, HIF-1, and NET formation pathways. It highlights a multi-target pharmacological mechanism of QZHY and provides a scientific basis for further study of QZHY on GA treatment.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12147,"journal":{"name":"Fitoterapia","volume":"185 ","pages":"Article 106744"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6000,"publicationDate":"2025-07-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Fitoterapia","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0367326X25003703","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"CHEMISTRY, MEDICINAL","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
QuZhuoHuaYu decoction (QZHY), a traditional Chinese medicine, has demonstrated a potential effect in gouty arthritis (GA) treatment, but its underlying mechanisms have yet to be fully elucidated. In this study, a strategy of UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap-MS/MS, transcriptomics, and network pharmacology combined with experimental verification was conducted to explore the constituents and the potential mechanisms of QZHY. A total of 26 compounds were identified from QZHY. Furthermore, QZHY significantly reduced the swelling index and inflammatory cell infiltration, and restrained macrophage M1 polarization and NLRP3/IL-1β pathway in ankle joints of GA mice. According to network pharmacology and transcriptomic analysis, it found NF-κB, HIF-1, and neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) formation pathways are the potential pathways for QZHY against GA. Experimental verification revealed that QZHY treatment inhibited NF-κB, HIF-1, and NET formation pathways in GA mice. In conclusion, QZHY ameliorates inflammation in GA mice, which may be associated with the inhibition of NLRP3, NF-κB, HIF-1, and NET formation pathways. It highlights a multi-target pharmacological mechanism of QZHY and provides a scientific basis for further study of QZHY on GA treatment.
期刊介绍:
Fitoterapia is a Journal dedicated to medicinal plants and to bioactive natural products of plant origin. It publishes original contributions in seven major areas:
1. Characterization of active ingredients of medicinal plants
2. Development of standardization method for bioactive plant extracts and natural products
3. Identification of bioactivity in plant extracts
4. Identification of targets and mechanism of activity of plant extracts
5. Production and genomic characterization of medicinal plants biomass
6. Chemistry and biochemistry of bioactive natural products of plant origin
7. Critical reviews of the historical, clinical and legal status of medicinal plants, and accounts on topical issues.