A network pharmacology approach to predict potential targets and mechanisms of Gui Zhi-Shao Yao herb pair in treating chronic pain with comorbid anxiety and depression

Background: Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) formulations have proven to possess multiple bioactive properties. “Gui Zhi-Shao Yao” herb pair is widely used to treat chronic pain (CP), as well as anxiety and depression. However, its correlative targets and underlying mechanisms have not been completely deciphered. Methods: In this study, the network pharmacology method was used to explore the bioactive components and targets of “Gui Zhi-Shao Yao” herb pair and further elucidate its potential biological mechanisms of action in the treatment of CP with comorbid anxiety disorder (AD) and mental depression (MD). Results: Followed by a series of analyses, we have identified 15 active compounds, hit by 130 potential targets. After taking the intersection among the targets of this herb pair and CP, AD and MD, and sorted by the value of Degree, 9 targets were regarded as the vital ones: Akt1, IL6, TNF, PTGS2, JUN, CASP3, MAPK8, PPARγ and NOS3. GO and KEGG analysis results demonstrate tha...背景：传统中药（Traditional Chinese Medicine, TCM）方剂已被证实具备多种生物活性特性。“桂枝-芍药”药对被广泛应用于慢性疼痛（chronic pain, CP）、焦虑障碍与抑郁症的治疗，但其相关作用靶点及潜在作用机制尚未完全阐明。 方法：本研究采用网络药理学方法，探究“桂枝-芍药”药对的生物活性成分与作用靶点，并进一步阐明其治疗伴焦虑障碍（anxiety disorder, AD）与抑郁症（mental depression, MD）的慢性疼痛的潜在生物学作用机制。 结果：经过一系列分析，本研究共筛选得到15种活性成分，对应130个潜在作用靶点。将该中药药对的靶点与慢性疼痛、焦虑障碍及抑郁症的靶点取交集后，按度值（Degree）进行排序，最终筛选出9个核心靶点：Akt1、IL6、TNF、PTGS2、JUN、CASP3、MAPK8、PPARγ及NOS3。基因本体（Gene Ontology, GO）与京都基因与基因组百科全书（Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes, KEGG）富集分析结果显示……