Analyzing the mechanism and experimental validation of Astilbe chinensis in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis through network pharmacology.

To unravel the active components and potential mechanisms of Astilbe chinensis in treating rheumatoid arthritis (RA), we employed a comprehensive strategy that combined network pharmacology and biological activity verification. Firstly, we identified the relevant compounds in A. chinensis from the literature, and RA-related targets were gathered through DisGeNET, GeneCards, and OMIM databases. Subsequently, compound-target and protein-protein interaction networks were constructed to predict the key compounds and promising protein targets of A. chinensis. Finally, these predictions were validated through in vitro anti-inflammatory activity experiments. A total of 29 potential active compounds and 117 intersecting pharmacological targets were identified. Among them, key active compounds included 3β,6β-dihydroxy olean-12-en-27-oic acid (astilbic acid), 3β-acetoxyolean-12-en-27-oic acid (3-acetyl oleanolic acid), 3β-hydroxyurs-12-en-27-oic acid, 4-O-galloylbergenin, and (+)/(-)-catechin. Key targets were identified as AKT1, MMP9, EGFR, CASP3, and HSP90AA1. GO enrichment analysis indicated that signal transduction, proteolysis, and negative regulation of the apoptotic process were closely associated with A. chinensis treatment in RA. KEGG pathway analysis indicated that pathways in cancer, osteoclast differentiation, and endocrine resistance might be crucial for A. chinensis intervention in RA. This finding suggested that multiple components in A. chinensis could regulate various signaling pathways and targets, playing preventive and therapeutic roles in RA. In vitro experiments demonstrated that A. chinensis extracts inhibited the secretion of inflammatory factors (NO, TNF-α, and IL-6) and significantly suppressed the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), IL-6, and TNF-α mRNA in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells. Collectively, our findings not only established the theoretical basis for the efficacy of A. chinensis in treating RA but also provided a direction for subsequent research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]