Underlying mechanism of Qiling Jiaogulan Powder in the treatment of broiler ascites syndrome

Broiler ascites syndrome (AS), is a nutritional and metabolic disease that occurs in fast-growing commercial broiler chickens. AS can cause poor growth and a significant increase in the rate of broiler deaths, which has resulted in serious economic losses to the poultry industry. The classic traditional Chinese medicine Qiling Jiaogulan Powder (QLJP) has been demonstrated to have a certain therapeutic effect on broiler AS. However, its pharmacological mechanism remains to be elucidated. This study was performed to investigate the multitarget action mechanism of QLJP in the treatment of broiler AS based on network pharmacology analysis using a broiler AS model. First, all chemical components and targets of QLJP were obtained from the Traditional Chinese Medicine System Pharmacology Analysis Platform (TCMSP). Targets related to broiler AS were further obtained through the GeneCards database and the NCBI Gene sub-database. A protein–protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed. Then, enrichment analyses were performed to predict the potential mechanisms of QLJP in the treatment of broiler AS. Finally, the treatment effect of QLJP on AS was verified in a broiler AS model. Network pharmacology analysis generated 49 active ingredients and 167 core targets of QLJP, and a QLJP–single drug–target–disease network was successfully constructed. Gene enrichment analysis indicated that the core targets have played major roles in the Cell cycle, FOXO signaling pathways, etc. We demonstrated that QLJP improved clinical and organ damage symptoms and significantly reduced the ascites heart index in broilers with AS induced by administration of high-energy, high-protein diets and high-sodium drinking water in a low-temperature environment. QLJP may regulate lung oxidative stress, the cell cycle and apoptosis by activating the FOXO3a signaling pathway to interfere with the occurrence and development of AS in broilers. QLJP administration may be a good clinical strategy for the prevention and treatment of broiler AS.