Deciphering the pharmacological mechanism of Radix astragali for allergic rhinitis through network pharmacology and experimental validation

作者：Yiwei Hua, Xi Tan, Jingwen Zhang, Ningcong Xu, Ruien Chen, Shiqing Zhou, Shaoqing Liu, Kai Li, Wenyong Chen, Qiulan Luo, Yunying Li · 发表于：Scientific Reports · 年份：2024 · DOI：10.1038/s41598-024-80101-1 · 被引用次数：21 · 研究领域：Allergic Rhinitis and Sensitization、Asthma and respiratory diseases、Olfactory and Sensory Function Studies

Radix Astragali (RA) has been recognized for its therapeutic potential in allergic rhinitis (AR), yet its potential pharmacological mechanisms remain elusive. This study systematically investigated the physicochemical properties and biological activities of RA's phytochemicals, aiming to elucidate their targets and mechanisms in AR treatment. We identified 775 potential targets of RA's key phytochemicals and intersected these with 29,544 AR-related disease targets, pinpointing 747 shared therapeutic targets. A protein-protein interaction network analysis categorized these targets into five subclusters, with TNF, NFKB1, IKBKB, NFKBIA, and CHUK emerging as central nodes. Enrichment analysis revealed their roles in inflammatory and immune responses, particularly through the NF-κB, TNF, IL-17, Toll-like receptor, and NOD-like receptor signaling pathways. Molecular docking and dynamics simulations confirmed the strong binding affinity and stability of RA's phytochemicals to these targets. In vivo, RA intervention effectively reversed the expression of key inflammatory markers in an IL-13-induced nasal mucosa inflammation model. Our findings suggest that RA's multitargeted approach involves the modulation of critical inflammatory pathways, highlighting its therapeutic potential.