TY - JOUR
T1 - Network pharmacology and molecular docking-based prediction of active compounds and mechanisms of action of Cnidii Fructus in treating atopic dermatitis
AU - Khan, Shakeel Ahmad
AU - Wu, Ying
AU - Li, Amy Sze Man
AU - Fu, Xiu Qiong
AU - Yu, Zhi Ling
N1 - Funding Information:
This work was supported by grants NSFC 81874358 and 82174029, 2021A1515010658, 2020A1515010579, and JCYJ20200109150719846.
Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2022
PY - 2022/10/19
Y1 - 2022/10/19
N2 - Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common inflammatory skin disease that compromises the skin's barrier function and capacity to retain moisture. Cnidii Fructus (CF), the dried fruits of Cnidium monnieri, has long been used to treat atopic dermatitis (AD) in China. However, the anti-AD compounds and mechanisms of CF are not fully understood. In this study, we evaluated the active compounds and molecular targets of CF in treating AD.Methods: The Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology database was used to acquire information regarding the compounds that occur in the herb. Targets of these compounds were predicted using the SwissTargetPrediction website tool. AD-related genes were collected from the GeneCards database. Gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis and KEGG pathway analysis of proteins that are targeted by active compounds of CF and encoded by AD-related genes were performed using Database for Annotation, Visualization, and Integrated Discovery Bioinformatics Resources. A “compound-target” network was constructed and analyzed using Cytoscape Software. Molecular docking was performed using BIOVIA Discovery Studio Visualizer and AutoDock Vina.Results: We identified 19 active compounds in CF, 532 potential targets for these compounds, and 1540 genes related to AD. Results of GO enrichment indicated that CF affects biological processes and molecular functions, such as inflammatory response and steroid hormone receptor activity, which may be associated with its anti-AD effects. KEGG pathway analyses showed that PI3K-Akt signaling, calcium signaling, Rap1 signaling, and cAMP signaling pathways are the main pathways involved in the anti-AD effects of CF. Molecular docking analyses revealed that the key active compounds in CF, such as (E)-2,3-bis(2-keto-7-methoxy-chromen-8-yl)acrolein, ar-curcumene, and diosmetin, can bind the main therapeutic targets AKT1, SRC, MAPK3, EGFR, CASP3, and PTGS2.Conclusions: Results of the present study establish a foundation for further investigation of the anti-AD compounds and mechanisms of CF and provide a basis for developing modern anti-AD agents based on compounds that occur in CF.
AB - Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common inflammatory skin disease that compromises the skin's barrier function and capacity to retain moisture. Cnidii Fructus (CF), the dried fruits of Cnidium monnieri, has long been used to treat atopic dermatitis (AD) in China. However, the anti-AD compounds and mechanisms of CF are not fully understood. In this study, we evaluated the active compounds and molecular targets of CF in treating AD.Methods: The Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology database was used to acquire information regarding the compounds that occur in the herb. Targets of these compounds were predicted using the SwissTargetPrediction website tool. AD-related genes were collected from the GeneCards database. Gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis and KEGG pathway analysis of proteins that are targeted by active compounds of CF and encoded by AD-related genes were performed using Database for Annotation, Visualization, and Integrated Discovery Bioinformatics Resources. A “compound-target” network was constructed and analyzed using Cytoscape Software. Molecular docking was performed using BIOVIA Discovery Studio Visualizer and AutoDock Vina.Results: We identified 19 active compounds in CF, 532 potential targets for these compounds, and 1540 genes related to AD. Results of GO enrichment indicated that CF affects biological processes and molecular functions, such as inflammatory response and steroid hormone receptor activity, which may be associated with its anti-AD effects. KEGG pathway analyses showed that PI3K-Akt signaling, calcium signaling, Rap1 signaling, and cAMP signaling pathways are the main pathways involved in the anti-AD effects of CF. Molecular docking analyses revealed that the key active compounds in CF, such as (E)-2,3-bis(2-keto-7-methoxy-chromen-8-yl)acrolein, ar-curcumene, and diosmetin, can bind the main therapeutic targets AKT1, SRC, MAPK3, EGFR, CASP3, and PTGS2.Conclusions: Results of the present study establish a foundation for further investigation of the anti-AD compounds and mechanisms of CF and provide a basis for developing modern anti-AD agents based on compounds that occur in CF.
KW - Atopic dermatitis
KW - Cnidium monnieri
KW - Gene Ontology
KW - KEGG pathway
KW - Network pharmacology
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85140265646&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1186/s12906-022-03734-7
DO - 10.1186/s12906-022-03734-7
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 36261841
AN - SCOPUS:85140265646
SN - 2662-7671
VL - 22
JO - BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies
JF - BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies
M1 - 275
ER -
