Network pharmacology research and experimental validation of Qishen decoction in the treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

• Main Authors: Shuo-Xi Li, Bing-Yu Wang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Editorial Board of Journal of Hainan Medical University 2020-07-01
• Series: Journal of Hainan Medical University
• Subjects: network pharmacology; qishen decoction; nonalcoholic fatty liver disease; insulin signaling pathway; molecular mechanism
• Online Access: http://www.hnykdxxb.com/PDF/202014/07.pdf

Objective: To screen the main active components of Qishen decoction by network pharmacology and predict the target of its treatment for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and to verify it by experiments. Methods: The main active components of Qishen decoction and the disease target of NAFLD were screened through the database; the drug disease target network and PPI were constructed by the software of Cytoscape and string database; the enrichment of go and KEGG were analyzed by the database of DAVID; HE staining, red oil O staining, serum biochemical index and Western blot were used to verify the effect mechanism of Qishen Decoction on NAFLD. Results: A total of 207 active compounds and 95 drug- disease-targets of Qishen Decoction were selected in this study. The results of KEGG enrichment analysis showed that the mechanism of Qishen decoction in the treatment of NAFLD involved adipocytokines, insulin signaling pathway, fatty acid biosynthesis, etc. The results showed that Qishen decoction could significantly reduce the liver NAS score and oil red O staining area of NAFLD rats (P<0.05). At meanwhile, Qishen decoction significantly reduced the levels of serum glucose, insulin, HOMA-IR, TC, TG, AST and ALT in NAFLD rats (P<0.05). In addition, Qishen decoction can significantly up regulate the expression of p-INSR β in liver tissue, down regulate the expression of SREBP-1c, Fas and p-ACC (P<0.05). Conclusion: Qishen decoction can improve the insulin resistance of NAFLD rats through insulin signaling pathway, so as to improve NAFLD fat deposition and liver injury. In addition, Qishen decoction can also achieve the therapeutic effect of NAFLD through multiple channels and targets.