The pharmacokinetics and network pharmacology of blood absorbed components for clarifying the potential anti-inflammatory action mechanism of Nelumbinis stamen

Abstract

The dried stamen of Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn., holds significant value and is widely used in health teas, functional foods and herbal medicine. Nelumbinis Stamen possesses anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anti-melanin properties. However, the blood-absorbed components and their mechanisms of action remain unclear. This study aimed to identify the blood-absorbed components and elucidate the anti-inflammatory mechanisms of Nelumbinis Stamen by integrating pharmacokinetics with network pharmacology. A validated UHPLC-MS/MS method was developed to quantify eleven flavonoids in rat plasma following the administration of the aqueous and alcohol extracts for pharmacokinetic comparisons between the two extracts. Five flavonoids were detected in plasma. Kaempferol-3-O-β-D-glucuronide and kaempferol-3-O-β-galactoside present in both extracts while hyperoside, isorhamnetin and isorhamnetin-3-O-β-D-glucoside were exclusive to the alcohol extract. Significant differences in the pharmacokinetic characteristics of these components were observed between the two extracts. Network pharmacology analysis identified PI3K-AKT, TNF and IL-17 signaling pathways as key pathways mediating the anti-inflammatory effects. It was further validated that the alcohol extracts can regulate the PI3K-AKT pathway through in vitro experiments. These findings highlight the effectiveness of integrating pharmacokinetics with network pharmacology in clarifying the bioactive components and mechanisms of Nelumbinis Stamen, providing a scientific basis for its therapeutic potential in inflammatory diseases.