Network Pharmacology Study of Arnebia euchroma in the Protective Effect of Heat Stroke / 中国药学杂志

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To predict the material basis of the “cooling blood” effect of Arnebia euchroma, and discusses its potential pathway and mechanism via network pharmacology. METHODS: The chemical constituents of Arnebia euchroma were collected based on database and literature search, the potential active components were filtered by admet SAR method, the targets of potential active ingredients were predicted by bSDTNBI method, the heat stroke related targets was retrieved from OMIM database. The STRING database was used to construct a "predicted target-disease target" protein interaction network, analyze and filter the key targets. A heat stroke model by heat stress-induced in mice to verify the efficacy of the key active ingredient (shikonin) for heat stroke protection was established. RESULTS: A total of 165 chemical constituents of Arnebia euchroma were filtered and 26 potential active ingredients were filtered out to act on 93 targets. Network analysis confirmed that naphthoquinone compounds were the main material basis of its "cooling blood" effect. Arnebia euchroma and heat stroke share multiple targets in the "predicted target-disease target" protein interaction network, suggesting that Arnebia euchroma may have protective effects on against heat stroke(HS). Forty-six key targets were mainly involved in biological processes and pathways such as inflammation, neurotransmitter conduction, redox and coagulation. Pharmacodynamic studies showed that shikonin could significantly prolong the survival time of mice with HS, reduce acute reactions and improve tissue organ damage. CONCLUSION: In summary, Arnebia euchroma may inhibit the inflammatory responses, promote blood circulation, protect the central nervous system, thereby improving multiple organ damage, and play a protective role in against HS.