Exploring the pharmacological mechanism of Glycyrrhiza uralensis against KOA through integrating network pharmacology and experimental assessment

• DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.18319
• Publication Date: 2024-05-14T12:36:05Z
• Authors: Jianbo Xu; Qi Sun; Min Qiu; Yungang Wu; Liangyan Cheng; Nanwan Jiang; Ruogu Zhang; Jiali Chen; Wenhua Yuan; Hongting Jin; Weidong Wang; Yunhuo Cai; Chunchun Zhang; Pinger Wang
• Keywords: Glycyrrhiza uralensis

Abstract Knee osteoarthritis (KOA), a major health and economic problem facing older adults worldwide, is degenerative joint disease. Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch. (GC) plays an integral role in many classic Chinese medicine prescriptions for treating knee osteoarthritis. Still, the of GC KOA unclear. To explore pharmacological mechanism against KOA, UPLC‐Q‐TOF/MS was conducted to detect main compounds GC. The therapeutic effect on DMM‐induced osteoarthritic mice assessed by histomorphology, μCT, behavioural tests, immunohistochemical staining. Network pharmacology molecular docking were used predict potential targets KOA. predicted results verified staining Animal experiments showed that had protective mainly improvement movement disorders, subchondral bone sclerosis cartilage damage. A variety flavonoids triterpenoids detected via UPLC‐Q‐TOF/MS, such as Naringenin. Seven core (JUN, MAPK3, MAPK1, AKT1, TP53, RELA STAT3) three pathways (IL‐17, NF‐κB TNF signalling pathways) discovered through network analysis closely related inflammatory response. Interestingly, active ingredient Naringenin good binding anti‐inflammatory‐related proteins. In verification experiment, after intervention GC, expression levels pp65 F4/80 indicators model significantly downregulated. could improve environment thus alleviating physiological structure dysfunction joint. might play important treatment