Exploring the Mechanism of Sijunzi Decoction in Inhibiting the Development of Adenoma in Chronic Colorectal Inflammation Based on Network Pharmacology and Experimental Validation
Objective To predict and validate the core targets of Sijunzi Decoction through network pharmacology and animal experiments,and to explore the mechanism of action of Sijunzi Decoction in inhibiting the occurrence of adenomas in chronic colorectal inflammation.Methods Based on TCMSP,GeneCards and OMIM databases,screen potential targets for active components of Sijunzi Decoction and gene targets related to disease and immunity,construct a potential target regulatory network for active components of Sijunzi Decoction,analyze relevant pathways and core targets through pathway enrichment and protein interaction networks,and explore potential targets of Sijunzi Decoction in inhibiting intestinal diseases.By intervening in the DSS induced chronic colorectal inflammation mouse model with Sijunzi Decoction,the protective effect of Sijunzi Decoction on chronic colorectal inflammation mice was confirmed through changes in intestinal phenotype and pathological staining in each group of mice.Finally,the transcriptional levels and protein expression levels of the core targets related to Sijunzi Decoction predicted based on network pharmacology were verified through qRT PCR and Western Blot,further validating the mechanism of Sijunzi Decoction's inhibitory effect on the occurrence of adenomas in mice with chronic colorectal inflammation.Results Network pharmacology analysis shows that Sijunzi Decoction is related to inflammatory,immune,and tumor related pathways,and 15 related core targets have been screened and predicted.After intervention with Sijunzi Decoction in DSS chronic colorectal inflammation model mice,it slowed down the inflammatory response of the colon and significantly improved the number and size of intestinal tumors.QRT PCR and Western Blot further confirmed that the mechanism of action of Sijunzi Decoction is related to the core targets of network pharmacology prediction,EGFR,MAPK8,and CASP3.Conclusion Sijunzi Decoction can inhibit the expression levels of EGFR,MAPK8,and CASP3,exerting the effect of inhibiting the occurrence of adenomas in chronic colorectal inflammation.This provides a new idea for further exploring the mechanism of Sijunzi Decoction's inhibition of the occurrence of adenomas in chronic colitis.