AUTHOR=Chen Keng , Deng Yiyao , Shang Shunlai , Li Ping , Liu Linchang , Chen Xiangmei 

TITLE=Network Pharmacology-Based Investigation of the Molecular Mechanisms of the Chinese Herbal Formula Shenyi in the Treatment of Diabetic Nephropathy

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Medicine

VOLUME=Volume 9 - 2022

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/medicine/articles/10.3389/fmed.2022.898624

DOI=10.3389/fmed.2022.898624

ISSN=2296-858X

ABSTRACT=Abstract 
Background: The Chinese herbal formula Shenyi (SY) is a prescription that was developed by the Department of Nephrology, Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital. This preparation is mainly used to treat CKD caused by DN and effectiveness. Howerer, the active ingredients of SY and the DN treatment-related molecular targets and effector mechanisms are still unclear. 
Methods: The Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology (TCMSP) database and the Traditional Chinese Medicine and Chemical Component Database of Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry were used to screen for the active ingredients in SY; the TCMSP database and Swiss Target Prediction database were used to collect the targets of the active ingredients of SY; and the Gene Cards and Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM) databases were used to screen for DN pathogenesis targets. The intersections of the component targets and disease targets were mapped to obtain the therapeutic targets. The METASCAPE database was used to perform Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses of the therapeutic targets. Cytoscape 3.7.2 was used for the analysis of topological parameters and the construction of a network of SY for the treatment of DN. 
Results: There were 62 active ingredients and 497 active ingredient effector targets in SY, 3260 DN-related targets, and 271 SY treatments for DN targets. Among these targets, 17 were core targets, including AKT1, tumor necrosis factor (TNF), interleukin-6 (IL6), and TP53. The GO and KEGG enrichment analyses show that SY’s therapeutic effects for DN occur mainly through pathways such as advanced glycation end product (AGE)-RAGE, PI3K-Akt, and IL-17. 
Conclusion: It can be seen that multiple active ingredients in SY exhibits treatment effects on DN treatment by affecting metabolism, inhibiting inflammation, and affecting cell structure growth.