Elucidating the Therapeutic Mechanisms of Dendrobium loddigesii in Gastric Mucosal Injury: An Integrated Approach Combining Serum Metabolomics and Network Pharmacology

Dendrobium loddigesii Hook is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine widely used in China. Modern pharmacological studies have shown that Dendrobium has immune regulation, anti-tumor, anti-oxidation, and anti-aging, hypoglycemic effect and is often used in the treatment of chronic gastritis. However, as an important source of Dendrobium, D. loddigesii still lacks research in the mechanism of gastric mucosal injury. The purpose of this study was to explore the potential mechanism of D. loddigesii in the treatment of gastric mucosal injury through animal experiments, serum metabolomics, network pharmacology, and molecular docking. Methods: The model of gastric mucosal injury in rats was established by intragastric administration of pungent Chinese medicine liquid mixed with liquor. The body weight, water intake, and food intake of rats were measured during the experiment. At the end of the experiment, the pH of gastric juice and the contents of albumin ALB, MDA, cAMP, and cGMP in serum were measured. HE staining was used to observe the changes of gastric tissue. Serum samples of rats in each group were collected for metabolomics analysis to find differential metabolites of drug intervention of D. loddigesii and their possible regulatory metabolic pathways. By using network pharmacology and molecular docking methods, the active ingredients, key targets, and potential collaterals of D. loddigesii were elaborated. Finally, the integrated pharmacological studies based on serum metabolomics, network pharmacology, and molecular docking showed that D. loddigesii may achieve the therapeutic effect on gastric mucosal injury by regulating arachidonic acid metabolism, phenylalanine metabolism, retinol metabolism, histidine metabolism, and tryptophan metabolism.