Formulation patterns and potential targets of traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of pneumoconiosis based on network pharmacology
10.3760/cma.j.cn121094-20240819-00388
- VernacularTitle:基于网络药理学探讨中医药治疗尘肺病的组方规律和潜在靶点
- Author:
Liting WU
1
;
Yu XU
;
Yuanfang CHEN
;
Baoli ZHU
;
Ming XU
;
Lei HAN
Author Information
1. 南京医科大学公共卫生学院，南京 211166
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Pneumoconiosis;
Traditional Chinese medicine;
Network pharmacology;
Formulation patterns;
Mendelian randomization
- From:
Chinese Journal of Industrial Hygiene and Occupational Diseases
2025;43(9):679-686
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective:To explore the formulation patterns and potential targets of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in the treatment of pneumoconiosis using data mining, network pharmacology, and Mendelian randomization (MR) .Methods:In November 2023, prescription data for TCM compound treatments of pneumoconiosis from the past five years were retrieved from the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang, and VIP databases. The formulation patterns of TCM for pneumoconiosis were analyzed based on drug frequency, association rules, and cluster analysis, followed by the identification of core drugs. Network pharmacology and MR analysis were then applied to determine the potential targets for pneumoconiosis treatment.Results:A total of 100 TCM prescriptions were included, involving 182 herbs, with 15 high-frequency herbs. A total of 24 strong association rules were identified, including 16 herbs. Cluster analysis identified three groups of drug combinations. The core drug combination, "Astragalus Root-Codonopsis Root-Tangkuei-Chinese Magnolia Vine Fruit-Danshen Root-Prepared Rehmannia Root" was determined, which interacted with 47 common targets associated with pneumoconiosis. Further protein-protein interaction (PPI) analysis identified 18 core targets, and MR analysis confirmed that Caspase-3 (CASP3) and Cathepsin B (CTSB) were risk factors for pneumoconiosis ( OR=1.35, 1.44; P=0.038, 0.038) . Conclusion:The core drug combination for the treatment of pneumoconiosis with TCM is "Astragalus Root-Codonopsis Root-Tangkuei-Chinese Magnolia Vine Fruit-Danshen Root-Prepared Rehmannia Root". The medication mainly focuses on tonifying lung qi, moistening dryness and stopping coughing, circulating blood and transforming stasis, which are supplemented with herbs for nourishing yin and moistening dryness, warming yang and dissipating cold. Finally, the key targets for treating pneumoconiosis are screened out, providing an important basis for the development of therapeutic drugs for it.
