Atractylodes macrocephala and Atractylodes lancea Improve Obesity in ob/ob Mice: Network Pharmacology and Untargeted Metabolomics Dataset

Based on network pharmacology and untargeted metabolomics, the mechanism of Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma-Atractylodis Rhizoma (AM-AL) herb pair improving obesity was explored. The ob/ob mice model of obesity was used. Micro-CT was employed to analyze the volumes of inguinal white adipose tissue (iWAT) and epididymal white adipose tissue (eWAT). Masson staining was used to observe the pathological changes of eWAT. ELISA was performed to detect the levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-17, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and malondialdehyde (MDA) in eWAT. Q-Orbitrap high-resolution liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry was used to qualitatively analyze the absorbed components of AM-AL in serum. Network pharmacology technology was used to screene core targets between absorbed components and diseases. Untargeted metabolomics was used to screene differential metabolites of eWAT, and related metabolic pathways. Combined with network pharmacology, a "metabolite-reaction-enzyme-gene" network was constructed for joint analysis. The animal experiment results showed that the high-dose AM-AL group could reduce the body weight and daily food intake of mice; reduce the volume of iWAT and eWAT; and improve the levels of inflammation and oxidative stress. Q-Orbitrap identified 49 compounds in serum. Network pharmacology results showed that AKT Serine/Threonine Kinase 1 (AKT1) was the core target, mainly involving metabolic pathways, lipids and atherosclerosis, and so on. Untargeted metabolomics showed that AM-AL significantly regulated 20 differential metabolites. The integrated analysis results indicated that glycerophospholipid metabolism might be the key pathway for the anti-obesity effect of AM-AL. This experiment initially clarified the mechanism of AM-AL in improving obesity, providing a scientific basis for its clinical application and subsequent research.