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Chinese Medicine
Published in: Chinese Medicine 1/2018

Open Access 01-12-2018 | Research

A network pharmacology approach to explore the mechanisms of Erxian decoction in polycystic ovary syndrome

Authors: Lihong Liu, Bo Du, Haiying Zhang, Xiaofei Guo, Zheng Zhou, Aihui Xiu, Chang Liu, Shiyu Su, Hao Ai

Published in: Chinese Medicine | Issue 1/2018

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Abstract

Background

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) significantly affects women’s health and well-being. To explore the pharmacological basis of the Erxian decoction (EXD) action in PCOS therapy, a network interaction analysis was conducted at the molecular level.

Methods

The active elements of EXD were identified according to the oral bioavailability and drug-likeness filters from three databases: traditional Chinese medicine system pharmacology analysis platform, TCM@taiwan and TCMID, and their potential targets were also identified. Genes associated with PCOS and established protein–protein interaction networks were mined from the NCBI database. Finally, significant pathways and functions of these networks were identified using Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analyses to determine the mechanism of action of EXD.

Results

Seventy active compounds were obtained from 981 ingredients present in the EXD decoction, corresponding to 247 targets. In addition, 262 genes were found to be closely related with PCOS, of which 50 overlapped with EXD and were thus considered therapeutically relevant. Pathway enrichment analysis identified PI3k-Akt, insulin resistance, Toll-like receptor, MAPK and AGE-RAGE from a total of 15 significant pathways in PCOS and its treatment.

Conclusions

EXD can effectively improve the symptoms of PCOS and our systemic pharmacological analysis lays the experimental foundation for further clinical applications of EXD.
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Metadata
Title
A network pharmacology approach to explore the mechanisms of Erxian decoction in polycystic ovary syndrome
Authors
Lihong Liu
Bo Du
Haiying Zhang
Xiaofei Guo
Zheng Zhou
Aihui Xiu
Chang Liu
Shiyu Su
Hao Ai
Publication date
01-12-2018
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Chinese Medicine / Issue 1/2018
Electronic ISSN: 1749-8546
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13020-018-0201-1

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