Revealing the Active Components and Therapeutic Targets of Sanao Decoction against Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Using Quantitative Analysis of Multi-Components by Single Marker and Network Pharmacology.

As a traditional Chinese medicine, Sanao decoction (SAD) has been used to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) for multi-years. However, the potential mechanism and targets for its effects of SAD remain unknown. The 94 components of SAD were identified by UPLC-LTQ-Orbitrap MS. Meanwhile, the quantitative analysis of multi-components by single marker (QAMS) method was used to control the quality of SAD, including ephedrine hydrochloride, amygdalin, liquiritin, liquiritigenin, glycyrrhizic acid and glycyrrhetinic acid. The method was strictly validated with recovery (90.0-110.0%), precision [relative standard deviation (RSD), 0.79-2.01%], stability (RSD, 1.84-2.64%), repeatability (RSD, 0.45-3.03%) and relative correction factors (RSD, 0.28-2.67%), respectively. All the compounds showed good linearities (R2 > 0.999). Subsequently, 37 target proteins of SAD in the treatment of COPD were screened. The "Compounds-Targets" interaction and protein-protein interaction network found that TNF-α, IL-6 and VEGFA may act a crucial role in the treatment of COPD by SAD. Molecular docking demonstrated that TNF-α had good affinity with the main components of SAD. A strategy of QAMS and network pharmacology was a novel method to assess the quality control of SAD and uncover the targets and potential mechanism of SAD in the treatment of COPD.