Affiliation:
1. Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing Tongrentang Science and Technology Development
Co., Ltd., Beijing, 100079, China
2. Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine Pharmacology, Beijing Zhongyan Tongrentang Medicine Research and Development Co., Ltd., Beijing, 100079, China
3. School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100029, China
Abstract
Background:
Oral Mucositis (OM) is a common and highly symptomatic complication
of cancer therapy that affects patient function and quality of life. Jingzhi Niuhuangjiedu Tablet
(JNT) is derived from the famous Chinese herbal formulas Huanglian Jiedu and Fangfeng
Tongsheng decoctions, which have been widely used to treat heat toxin syndrome diseases, such as
acute pharyngitis, periodontitis, oral ulcers, and oral mucositis (OM), but the underlying mechanism
remains unclear.
Objectives:
This study validated the efficacy and explored the potential mechanisms of JNT in the
treatment of OM by integrating network pharmacological analyses and experimental verification.
Methods:
Network pharmacology and molecular docking techniques were used to predict the active
components, key targets, and potential mechanisms of action of JNT against OM.
The rat OM model was established by administering 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) and acetic acid to the
rat oral mucosa. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated human gingival fibroblasts (HGFs) were used
as an inflammatory cell model. The GFP-NFκB HEK293T cell line was transfected to evaluate the
anti-NFκB activity of JNT.
Results:
A total of 236 Chinese herbal components and 201 corresponding targets were predicted
for OM treatment using JNT. Bicuculine, luteolin, wogonin, and naringenin were identified as the
important active compounds, while AKT1, ALB, IL6, MAPK3, and VEGFA were considered to be
the major targets. Molecular docking revealed that these active compounds exhibited strong binding
interactions with their targets. In vivo and in vitro experiments demonstrated that the anti-OM
effect of JNT might be closely related to AKT1, NFκB, caspase-1, and NLRP3, as well as biological
processes, such as inflammatory response and oxidative stress.
Conclusion:
Network pharmacological and experimental evidence indicates that JNT has a potential
therapeutic effect on OM by regulating the Akt/NFκB/NLRP3 pathway.
Publisher
Bentham Science Publishers Ltd.