Network pharmacology-based analysis of the mechanism of Radix Paeoniae Alba against Toosendan Fructus-induced hepatotoxicity

Heng Xu¹,
Yaqi Zhang²,
Huan Chen² and
Tengfei Bai²

Gastroenterology & Hepatology Research 2022;4(1):3

doi: 10.53388/ghr2022-03-045

Published online: March 30, 2022

Author information

Citation: Xu H, Zhang Y, Chen H, Bai T. Network pharmacology-based analysis of the mechanism of Radix Paeoniae Alba against Toosendan Fructus-induced hepatotoxicity. Gastroenterol & Hepatol Res. 2022;4(1):3. doi: 10.53388/ghr2022-03-045.

Abstract

Objective

To analyze and explore the key targets and molecular mechanisms of action of Radix Paeoniae Alba against Toosendan Fructus-induced hepatotoxicity and the relationship between corresponding compounds based on network pharmacology.

Methods

Using network pharmacology, a "traditional Chinese medicineâchemical compositionâkey targetâpathway" analysis was conducted on Radix Paeoniae Alba for the treatment of Toosendan Fructus-induced hepatotoxicity. The possible mechanism of action was analyzed in terms of function.

Results

The core targets, such as interleukin (IL)-6, tumor necrosis factor (TNF), heat shock protein 90 alpha family class A member 1 (HSP90AA1), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARG), prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2 (PTGS2), heme oxygenase 1 (HMOX1), Jun proto-oncogene (JUN), caspase-3, estrogen receptor 1 (ESR1), and aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) were screened from the targets of Radix Paeoniae Alba against Toosendan Fructus-induced hepatotoxicity. Biological process (BP) of toxic targets (BP terms) involved "response to drug; activation of cysteine-type endopeptidase activity involved in apoptotic process," positive regulation of transcription. Cellular components (CC terms) mainly involved cytosol and membrane rafts. Molecular function (MF) terms included "protein homodimerization activity," RNA polymerase II transcription factor activity and enzyme binding, etc." The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway included the TNF signaling pathway, cancer pathways, and apoptosis.

Conclusion

Radix Paeoniae Alba might alleviate Toosendan Fructus-induced hepatotoxicity through IL6, TNF, HSP90AA1, PPARG, PTGS2, HMOX1, and other targets, possibly via the activation of cysteine-type endopeptidase activity involved in these pathways.

Keywords

Radix Paeoniae Alba, Toosendan Fructus, liver toxicity, network pharmacology, compatibility

Copyright © 2025 Authors. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 License (CC BY-NC 4.0), permitting all non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

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Xu H, Zhang Y, Chen H, Bai T. Network pharmacology-based analysis of the mechanism of Radix Paeoniae Alba against Toosendan Fructus-induced hepatotoxicity. Gastroenterol & Hepatol Res. 2022;4(1):3. doi: 10.53388/ghr2022-03-045.

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Article History

Received	Revised	Accepted	Published
			March 30, 2022

DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.53388/ghr2022-03-045

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