Network Pharmacology and Molecular Docking Analysis Reveal the Therapeutic Potential of Artemisia annua L. in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Introduction

Artemisia annua L., a traditional Chinese herb, has been used to manage inflammatory diseases, including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). However, its active components and molecular mechanisms in treating SLE remain unclear.

Methods

Active compounds were identified using the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform with criteria of drug-likeness ≥0.18 and oral bioavailability ≥30%. SLE-related genes were retrieved from DrugBank, Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man, Therapeutic Target Database, and GeneCards using the search term ‘systemic lupus erythematosus.’ Protein–protein interaction networks were constructed using Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes/Proteins, and the Kyoto Encyclopaedia of Genes and Genomes and Gene Ontology enrichment analyses were performed via the DAVID platform. Molecular docking was conducted using AutoDock software.

Results

Eight core disease-related genes and five key active compounds were identified through topological analysis. Gene ontology and kyoto encyclopaedia of genes and genomes analyses indicated that the compounds primarily influenced cancer development risk, negative regulation of cell death, and related signalling pathways. Molecular docking confirmed strong binding affinities between key phytochemicals and core SLE targets .

Conclusions

The active compounds identified in this study target the following genes: interleukin-6, tumour protein p53, epidermal growth factor receptor, protein kinase B, interleukin-1 beta, tumour necrosis factor, jun proto-oncogene, and B-cell lymphoma 2, which regulate inflammation, T-cell differentiation, and apoptosis. These findings suggest Artemisia annua L. is a source of multitarget therapeutic agents for SLE, warranting further experimental validation.