Exploring the Mechanism of Dandelion in Treating Helicobacter pylori-Induced Chronic Gastritis Based on Network Pharmacology

Abstract

Background Helicobacter pylori-induced chronic gastritis (HAG) is a significant healthcare burden in China due to its prevalence and carcinogenic potential. Current clinical management relies on antimicrobial therapies, such as bismuth-based quadruple therapy. This study aimed to explore Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)’s protective effect against long-term antibiotic therapy-induced injury, such as rising resistance, reduced eradication rates, and increasing adverse effects (gut microbiota dysbiosis and drug allergies). Methods To address these limitations, bioactive components of dandelion were screened from multiple TCM databases using ADME-based pharmacokinetic filters, and their targets were predicted using SwissTargetPrediction. Disease-associated targets were retrieved from GEO, GeneCards, and OMIM, followed by PPI network construction, GO/KEGG enrichment, molecular docking, and GSEA validation to prioritize candidate targets for experimental validation. Blood-absorbed components were further confirmed by UPLC–MS serum analysis. The therapeutic effects and underlying mechanisms were subsequently validated in an H. pylori-infected C57BL/6 mouse model and GES-1 cells through histological evaluation, qRT-PCR quantification of pathway-related gene expression, and Western blot analysis of PI3K/AKT total and phosphorylated protein levels. Results Quercetin was identified as the principal active component, demonstrating strong binding affinity to AKT1 and upregulating PI3K/AKT phosphorylation. In vivo, quercetin inhibited HAG progression and enhanced the efficacy of quadruple therapy, improving body weight recovery, inflammation resolution, and cure time. Conclusion Quercetin enhanced quadruple therapy by boosting immunity, shortening treatment duration, and promoting gastric mucosal recovery. While this study delineates the mechanism of a single active compound via the PI3K/AKT axis, the holistic therapeutic potential of dandelion may rely on multi-component synergistic interactions. Future large-scale clinical trials are needed to optimize TCM-antibiotic combinations, offering safer, personalized therapy for HAG.