Exploring the Mechanism of Weijing Decoction in the Treatment of Ulcerative Colitis Based on Network Pharmacology and Animal Experiments

Methods

The active ingredients of Weijing Decoction and their predicted targets were screened from the TCMSP database. UC-related disease targets were obtained from DisGeNET and GeneCards databases. The potential targets of Weijing Decoction for UC were determined by taking the intersection of ingredient targets and disease targets.

The protein-protein interaction network of the common targets between Weijing Decoction and UC was constructed using Cytoscape software. GO functional enrichment and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses were performed via the DAVID database. A mouse model of colitis was established with 2.5% dextran sulfate sodium (DSS).

The effects of intragastric administration of Weijing Decoction on the general condition, inflammatory factor expression and colonic mucosal barrier of mice were observed. Results A total of 19 common targets between Weijing Decoction and UC were retrieved from databases. Twenty active ingredients of Weijing Decoction were screened, corresponding to 19 predicted targets.

The core targets were IL-1β and PTGS2. GO functional enrichment was mainly related to biological processes such as inflammatory response, cell components such as plasma membrane, and molecular functions such as chemokine receptor activity. KEGG pathway enrichment was concentrated in the NF-κB signaling pathway and other pathways.

Animal experiments demonstrated that Weijing Decoction could improve the general condition of colitis mice, reduce the expression of inflammatory factors, and protect the integrity of the intestinal mucosal barrier. Conclusion Network pharmacology and animal experiments mutually verify that Weijing Decoction may act on the core targets IL-1β and PTGS2 by regulating key pathways such as NF-κB, thereby modulating inflammatory responses, alleviating intestinal mucosal injury, and exerting therapeutic effects on UC.