ABSTRACT
Objective:To the molecular mechanism of Yinjiushu in the treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) by network pharmacology based on the theory of homology of medicine and food; To conduct experimental verification.Methods:The active components and targets of the Yinjiushu were screened through the TCMSP platform. Cytoscape 3.7.2 was used to construct the "Chinese materia medica-component-target" network of Yinjiushu. The potential targets of NAFLD were obtained by using TTD, GeneCards database and DisGeNET database, and the intersection targets of Yinjiushu and NAFLD were obtained by mapping targets with Venn diagram. The high confidence interaction relationship of intersection targets was obtained in STRING database, and the core targets of Yinjiushu in treating NAFLD were screened out. GO function and KEGG pathway enrichment of common targets were analyzed by David database, and the above results were further verified by animal experiments. The rats were divided into blank group, model group, Western medicine group and Yinjiushu high-, medium- and low-dosage groups according to random number table method, with 8 rats in each group. Except the blank group, rats in other groups were fed with high-fat diet to prepare NAFLD model. Each group was given corresponding drugs for intervention. The rats were weighed regularly. The serum contents of GPT, GOT, TC, TG, IL-6, TNF-α, MPO of rats were detected by ELISA. The liver index was calculated. The degree of fatty degeneration of hepatocytes was observed by HE. The expressions of CAT, NOS3, SOD, PI3K, p-Akt, Akt protein were detected by Western blot.Results:A total of 8 418 NAFLD-related targets, 118 kinds of active components from Yinjiushu, and 137 targets acting on NAFLD were screened. The core targets included IL-6, TNF, VEGFA, TP53, JUN, CAT, NOS3, SOD, etc. 20 related signaling pathways were screened from KEGG enrichment pathway, among which PI3K/Akt pathway, calcium ion pathway, cAMP pathway and TNF pathway may play key roles in the treatment. Yinjiushu was closely related to inflammatory reaction, oxidative stress, angiogenesis, autophagy, cell proliferation, differentiation, metabolism, apoptosis, etc., or it could treat NAFLD by promoting cell apoptosis, inhibiting cell proliferation, inhibiting cell migration, etc. The animal experiment proved that Yinjiushu could reduce the body weight, wet liver weight and liver-body ratio of NAFLD rats, reduce some liver function and blood lipid indexes (GPT, GOT, TG, TC), down-regulate serum IL-6, TNF-α and MPO, up-regulate the expression of CAT, NOS3 and SOD in hepatocytes, and activate the expression of PI3K/Akt key protein.Conclusion:Yinjiushu can play a role in treating NAFLD by inhibiting the release of inflammatory mediators, improving lipid metabolism disorder of hepatocytes, repairing oxidative stress injury and promoting the recovery of liver function.