Mechanism of Baxian Huazhuo Decoction in the Treatment of Gouty Arthritis Based on Network Pharmacology, Molecular Docking, and Experimental Verification

Abstract

The global prevalence of gout continues to rise. Baxian Huazhuo Decoction (BHD) has demonstrated significant efficacy in the clinical treatment of acute gouty arthritis (AGA); however, its mechanism of action remains unclear. This study first employed network pharmacology analysis to identify the key components, targets, and pathways of BHD against AGA. Molecular docking studies validated the binding affinity between the components of BHD and their potential targets. Ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography–high-resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC–HRMS) was utilized to identify the active components in BHD and elucidate their fragmentation pathways. Subsequently, a monosodium urate crystal–induced AGA rabbit model was established to evaluate the in vivo therapeutic efficacy of BHD. The results revealed 62 predicted active components and 268 target molecules in BHD, identifying core constituents such as gentiopicroside, limonin, and indirubin, which exhibited high affinity for targets including MAPK1, PPARG, and IL-6. In vivo experiments confirmed that BHD significantly suppressed the phosphorylation of MAPK1, reduced the levels of pro-inflammatory factors such as TNF-α and IL-6, mitigated synovial damage, and inhibited the activation of the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway. This study systematically elucidates the pharmacological basis and mechanisms of action of BHD in the treatment of AGA, providing a scientific basis for its clinical application.