The Mechanism of Agrimonia pilosa in the Treatment of Bronchial Asthma via Network Pharmacology and Experimental Study

doi:10.3870/j.issn.1672-0741.24.08.018

Abstract

Abstract: Objective This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic mechanism of Agrimonia pilosa in the treatment of bronchial asthma(BA) via network pharmacology and molecular docking techniques,followed by validation through animal experiments. Methods The key bioactive components and core therapeutic targets of Agrimonia pilosa for treating BA were identified from multiple databases,including TCMSP,OMIM,DisGenet,and GeneCards.The protein-protein interaction(PPI)network of these targets was subsequently constructed via STRING and Cytoscape,and the core targets were selected for Gene Ontology(GO)functional annotation and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)pathway enrichment analysis.A BA rat model was established by sensitizing the rats with 4% ovalbumin.The levels of IL-4,IL-5,IL-6,and IFN-γ in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were determined via ELISA,while the protein expression levels of p38 MAPK,P-p38 MAPK,NF-κB p65,and NF-κB P-p65 in lung tissue were assessed via Western blotting to evaluate the effects of Agrimonia pilosa on BA rats and verify the associated signaling pathways. Results A total of five active components of Agrimonia pilosa were identified,along with 120 intersecting potential therapeutic targets for BA.Among these,five inflammation-related core targets,which were found to be involved in 159 signaling pathways,were highlighted.Molecular docking analysis revealed that quercetin displayed stable binding and high affinity with the identified inflammation-related core targets.The results of animal experiments using the BA model revealed that Agrimonia pilosa decreased the levels of the cytokines IL-4,IL-5,IL-6,and IL-13 while increasing the IFN-γ level.Moreover,Western blot analysis revealed that Agrimonia pilosa downregulated the protein expression of P-p38 MAPK and NF-κB P-p65. Conclusion Agrimonia pilosa may exert its effects by inhibiting the p38 MAPK/NF-κB signaling pathway,thereby reducing Th2 cytokine production and alleviating inflammatory responses,which may be a mechanism of Agrimonia pilosa in the treatment of BA.

Key words: Agrimonia pilosa, bronchial asthma, network pharmacology, molecular docking, inflammation

CLC Number:

R562.25

Gao Guocai, Zheng Hong, Pan Danping et al. The Mechanism of Agrimonia pilosa in the Treatment of Bronchial Asthma via Network Pharmacology and Experimental Study[J]. Acta Medicinae Universitatis Scientiae et Technologiae Huazhong, 2026, 55(1): 45-52.

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