Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research

Original Research Article | OPEN ACCESS

Network pharmacology approach to screen hypoglycemic extracts from Coptidis rhizoma and study on their targets and pathways

Liu Xiao¹, Yi Li², Xin-guo Liu², Quan-wei Yang², Lei Yang³, He-gui Huang², Lei Huang², Ming Wei⁴

¹Wuhan No. 1 Hospital, Wuhan No. 1 Hospital, Wuhan, 430022, China; ²Pharmacy Department, Wuhan No. 1 Hospital, Wuhan, 430022, China; ³Pharmacy Department, The First Hospital of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, 410007, China; ⁴Physical Examination Center, Wuhan No. 3 Hospital, Wuhan, 430060, China.

For correspondence:- Ming Wei Email: wm15307117271@163.com Tel:+862768894785

Accepted: 18 July 2022 Published: 28 August 2022

Citation: Xiao L, Li Y, Liu X, Yang Q, Yang L, Huang H, et al. Network pharmacology approach to screen hypoglycemic extracts from Coptidis rhizoma and study on their targets and pathways. Trop J Pharm Res 2022; 21(8):1667-1673 doi: 10.4314/tjpr.v21i8.13

© 2022 The authors.
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Abstract

Purpose: To screen the hypoglycemic active ingredients from Coptidis rhizoma, and study their targets as well as signal pathways via network pharmacology.

Methods: The fifty-nine ingredients of Coptidis rhizoma were screened for. Their targets were confirmed by comparing with the hypoglycemic targets in DrugBank databases. The relationship between ingredients and targets was revealed through String database. The ingredient-target-passageway network was constructed. Coptidis rhizoma was soaked in boiling water and concentrated. Rat models were rendered diabetic by the administration of streptozotocin (STZ) intraperitoneal injection, and administered Coptidis rhizoma (0.40 g/kg, once a day by gavage), and tested for antidiabetic activity.

Results: After four weeks of treatment, their blood glucose levels (BG) of all treated hyperglycemic rats decreased (p < 0.05). Twenty-four hypoglycemic compounds screened from Coptidis rhizome via network pharmacology could activate 13 targets, such as D (2) dopamine receptor (DRD2), insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF1R), 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor 2C (HTR2C), 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor 3A (HTR3A) and sodium-dependent noradrenaline transporter (SLC6A2). These targets were involved in 141 pathways, e.g., cAMP signaling pathway, chemokine signaling pathway, Rap1 signaling pathway, estrogen signaling pathway, and Apelin signaling pathway.

Conclusion: This study suggests that Coptidis rhizoma contains several active compounds that show significant hypoglycemic effects. Furthermore, this study has established the basis for future investigations on the hypoglycemic effects of Coptidis rhizoma.

Keywords: Coptidis rhizoma, Hypoglycemic effects, Network pharmacology, Active ingredients, Signaling pathways