Mechanisms of saffron in treatment of depression based on network pharmacology / 中国药理学通报

ABSTRACT

Aim To explore the main pathways and possible mechanisms of saffron in treatment of depression using network pharmacology. Methods A network of active components of saffron-depression disease target was constructed through the TCM System Pharmacology Database (TCMSP), Genecards, Uniprot database, Cytoscape software, and ClueGo analysis tool, and GO biological process and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis were performed, and molecular docking verification was carried out using Autodock vina software. Results The five main chemical components quercetin, kaempferol, crocealdehyde, crocetin, and isorhamnetin may pass through the IL-17 signaling pathway, HIF-1 signaling pathway and Toll-like inflammatory pathways such as receptor signaling pathway, PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, MAPK signaling pathway, relaxin signaling pathway, Thl7 cell differentiation and other pathways, playing an antidepressant effect. In the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway and MAPK signaling pathway, the targets of saffron for depression were mainly enriched in multiple targets such as BD-NF, TNF, IL-1, IL-6, MAPK8, JUN, GSK3B, N0S3 and so on. The results of molecular docking verification indicated a good docking effect of saffron and crocetin with the BDNF target in the antidepressant pathway of saffron. Conclusions The mechanism of saffron treatment of depression is mainly reflected in the regulation of neurotrophic factors, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxida-tive stress, etc., providing a theoretical basis for clinical application.