Network Pharmacology and Experiments in Vivo and in Vitro Reveal that the Jia-Wei-Bu-Shen-Yi-Qi Formula (JWBSYQF) and its Active Ingredient Baicalein Ameliorate BLM-Induced Lung Fibrosis in Mice Via PI3k/Akt Signaling Pathway

• DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.4356722
• Publication Date: 2023-03-03T21:12:52Z
• Authors: Hanlin Shi; Lingling Deng; Yaolong Zhou; Hang Yu; Xi Huang; Mengmeng Chen; Yang Lei; Jingcheng Dong
• Keywords: Baicalein

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Jia-Wei-Bu-Shen-Yi-Qi formula (JWBSYQF), a classical traditional Chinese herbal consisting of five herbs, is used clinically in China to treat inflammatory lung diseases, including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and idiopathic fibrosis (IPF). Its mechanism for treating asthma COPD has been reported, however, how it works against IPF remains unclear.Research purpose: Our study aims observe the therapeutic effect JWBSYQF on further identify potential active ingredients molecular pathways.Research methods: In this study, we bleomycin-induced mouse model investigate fibrosis. To explore effective pathways, network pharmacology approach construct drug-ingredient-target JWBSYQF. Then, common target set was established JWBSYQF, fibroblast, Analyses KEGG pathway, GO enrichment, topology were performed key biological processes pathways targets. Finally, TGF-β-induced NIH/3T3 proliferation activation validate possible signaling results: reversed BLM-induced balf leukocyte levels, lesions fibrotic collagen deposition mice reduced levels a-SMA, Col1a1 TGF-β. A total 86 identified, 12 which considered as ingredients, while only baicalein effectively improved NIH/3T3. results showed that PI3K/Akt pathway may be action mechanism, Western Blot demonstrated both downregulated protein PI3K p-Akt. Molecular docking result binding energy -6.27 kcal/mol Akt protein, indicating strong capacity.Conclusions: revealed material basis treatment fibrosis, baicalein.