Exploring the Constituents and Mechanisms of Polygonum multiflorum Thunb. in Mitigating Ischemic Stroke: A Network Pharmacology and Molecular Docking Study

Polygonum multiflorum Thunb. (PMT) has shown promise in exerting cerebrovascular protective effects, and its potential for treating ischemic stroke (IS) has garnered attention. However, the lack of clarity regarding its chemical constituents and mechanisms has significantly hindered its clinical application. In this study, we employed network pharmacology and molecular docking techniques for the first time to elucidate the potential compounds and targets of PMT in treating IS. The databases CTD, DrugBank, DisGeNET, GeneCards, OMIM, TTD, PGKB, NCBI, TCMIP, CNKI, PubMed, ZINC, STITCH, BATMAN, ETCM and Swiss provided information on targets related to IS and components of PMT, along with their associated targets. We constructed "compound-target" and protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks sourced from the STRING database using the Cytoscape software. Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis and KEGG pathway analysis were conducted using the DAVID database. Molecular docking between core targets and active compounds was conducted using Autodock4 software. Experiments were performed in an oxygen-glucose deprivation and reperfusion (OGD/R) model to validate the anti-IS activity of compounds isolated from PMT preliminarily. Network pharmacological analysis revealed 16 core compounds, including resveratrol, polydatin, TSG, ω- hydroxyemodin, emodin anthrone, tricin, moupinamide, and others, along with 11 high-degree targets, such as PTGS1, PTGS2, ADORA1, ADORA2, CA1, EGFR, ESR1, ESR2, SRC, MMP3 and MMP9. GO and KEGG enrichment analyses revealed the involvement of HIF-1, Akt signaling pathway and energy metabolism-related signaling pathways. Molecular docking results emphasized eight key compounds and confirmed their interactions with corresponding targets. In vitro OGD/R model experiments identified TSG and tricin as the primary active substances within PMT for its anti-stroke activity. This study contributes new insights into the potential development of PMT for stroke prevention and treatment.