Exploring the Active Ingredients and Mechanism of Action of Huanglian Huazhuo Capsule for the Treatment of Obese Type-2 Diabetes Mellitus Based on Using Network Pharmacology and Molecular Docking

BACKGROUND: Obese type 2 diabetes mellitus (obese T2DM) is one of the prime diseases that endangers human health. Clinical studies have confirmed the ability of the Huanglian Huazhuo capsule to treat obese T2DM; however, its mechanism of action is still unclear. In this study, effects and mechanisms of the Huanglian Huazhuo capsule in obese T2DM were systematically investigated using network pharmacology and molecular docking techniques. METHODS: The active ingredients and targets of the Huanglian Huazhuo capsule were extracted from Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform (TCMSP). Obese T2DM diabetes-related targets were retrieved from a geographic dataset combined with a gene card database. A protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed to screen core targets. The Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses were conducted using Database for Annotation Visualization and Integrated Discovery (DAVID). Interactions between potential targets and active compounds were assessed using molecular docking. Molecular docking was performed on the best core protein complexes obtained using molecular docking. RESULTS: A total of 89 and 108 active ingredients and targets, respectively, were identified. Seven core targets were obtained using a topological analysis of the PPI network. The GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses showed that the effects of the Huanglian Huazhuo capsules were mediated by inflammation, lipid response, oxidative stress-related genes, and HIF-1 and IL-17 signaling pathways. Good binding ability was observed between the active compounds and screened targets using molecular docking. CONCLUSIONS: The active ingredients, potential targets, and pathways of the Huanglian Huazhuo capsule for the treatment of obese T2DM were successfully predicted, providing a new strategy for further investigation of its molecular mechanisms. In addition, the potential active ingredients provide a reliable source for drug screening in obese T2DM.