A Network Pharmacology Approach to Investigate the Mechanism of Erjing Prescription in Type 2 Diabetes

Jiexin Wang; Haiqing Chu; Hangying Li; Wenqian Yang; Yu Zhao; Tong Shen; John Cary; Liming Zhang

doi:10.1155/2021/9933236

A Network Pharmacology Approach to Investigate the Mechanism of Erjing Prescription in Type 2 Diabetes

Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2021 Jul 24:2021:9933236. doi: 10.1155/2021/9933236. eCollection 2021.

Authors

Jiexin Wang¹, Haiqing Chu¹, Hangying Li^{1

2}, Wenqian Yang¹, Yu Zhao¹, Tong Shen¹, John Cary³, Liming Zhang^{1

2

4}

Affiliations

¹ College of Pharmacy, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan 750004, China.
² Ningxia Engineering and Technology Research Center for Modernization of Chinese Medicine, Yinchuan 750004, China.
³ Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan 750004, China.
⁴ Key Laboratory of Ningxia Ethnomedicine Modernization, Ministry of Education, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan 750004, China.

Abstract

Erjing prescription (EJP) was an ancient formula that was recorded in the General Medical Collection of Royal Benevolence of the Song Dynasty. It has been frequently used to treat type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in the long history of China. The formula consists of Lycium barbarum L. and Polygonatum sibiricum F. Delaroche with a ratio of 1 : 1. This study aimed to identify the potential effects and mechanisms of EJP treatment T2DM. The target proteins and possible pathways of EJP in T2DM treatment were investigated by the approach of network pharmacology and real-time PCR (RT-PCR). 99 diabetes-related proteins were regulated by 56 bioactive constituents in EJP in 26 signal pathways by Cytoscape determination. According to GO analysis, 606 genes entries have been enriched. The PPI network suggested that AKT1, EGF, EGFR, MAPK1, and GSK3β proteins were core genes. Among the 26 signal pathways, the PI3K-AKT signal pathway was tested by the RT-PCR. The expression level of PI3K p85, AKT1, GSK3β, and Myc mRNA of this pathway was regulated by EJP. The study based on network pharmacology and RT-PCR analysis revealed that the blood sugar level was regulated by EJP via regulating the PI3K-AKT signal pathway. Plenty of new treatment methods for T2DM using EJP were provided by network pharmacology analysis.