Investigating the mechanisms of suzijianqi Pill in COPD intervention through UPLC Q-Exactive Orbitrap MS, network pharmacology, and animal experiments

Suzijianqi Pill (SZJQW) is an oral Chinese patent medicine commonly used for treating chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), but its underlying mechanism is not fully understood. This study aimed to investigate SZJQW’s therapeutic mechanism in COPD using UPLC Q-Exactive Orbitrap MS, network pharmacology, and animal experiments. A total of 110 chemical components were identified. Network pharmacology analysis identified AKT1 as a core target, and glabridin and kaempferol as core components. It is suggested that SZJQW regulates the PI3K/AKT pathway to treat COPD. Molecular docking and dynamic modelling demonstrated favourable affinities between core components and targets. In COPD mice, SZJQW improved lung function and reduced inflammation and activation of the PI3K/AKT pathway. Cell experiments revealed that glabridin and kaempferol were effective in suppressing cigarette-induced cell damage. Overall, this study validates the core role of the PI3K/AKT pathway in SZJQW’s treatment of COPD.