A Network-Based Approach to Explore the Mechanism and Bioactive Compounds of Erzhi Pill against Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Fatty Liver Disease

Abstract

Erzhi pill (EZP), a classical traditional Chinese medicine prescription, exerts a potent hepatoprotective effect against metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD), previously known as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). However, the mechanism and bioactive compounds underlying the hepatoprotective effect of EZP have not been fully elucidated. In this study, a systematic analytical platform was built to explore the mechanism and bioactive compounds of EZP against MAFLD. This was carried out through target prediction, protein-protein interaction (PPI) network construction, gene ontology, KEGG pathway enrichment, and molecular docking. According to the topological parameters of the PPI network, compound-target-pathway network, 9 targets, and 11 bioactive compounds were identified as core targets and bioactive compounds for molecular docking. The results showed that EZP exerts anti-MAFLD effects through a multicomponent, multitarget, multipathway manner, and luteolin and linarin may be the bioactive compounds of EZP. This study provides further research insights and helps explore the hepatoprotective mechanism of EZP.

Chinese medicine in the treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease based on network pharmacology: a review

“…Erzhi pill (EZP), as a classic Chinese medicine prescription, has a potential hepatoprotective effect on NAFLD. Huang, et al (2020) established a systematic analysis platform to explore the specific mechanism of EZP on NAFLD and the key compounds involved. Finally, it was found that EZP exerts an anti-NAFLD effect through multi-target, multi-component, and multi-pathway, and linarin and luteolin may be the key compounds of EZP in the treatment of NAFLD.…”

A review of botany, phytochemistry, pharmacology, and applications of the herb with the homology of medicine and food: Ligustrum lucidum W.T. Aiton

“…Nowadays, EZP is the most frequently mentioned as an anti-aging, hepatoprotective, promoting hematopoietic, and anti-oxidant agent for menopausal symptoms in clinical application in Taiwan and China ( Chen et al, 2011 ; Cheng et al, 2011 ; Xu et al, 2012 ). EZP has shown marked effects in the treatment of diabetic cardiomyopathy ( Peng et al, 2022 ), benign prostatic hyperplasia ( Tao et al, 2022 ), liver injury ( Zhao et al, 2018 ), AD ( Xie et al, 2021 ), osteoporosis ( Zhong et al, 2021 ), rheumatoid arthritis (RA) ( Li et al, 2020 ), fatty liver ( Huang et al, 2020 ), and aging-associated symptoms ( Feng et al, 2021 ).…”

Intestinal Microbiota and Liver Diseases: Insights into Therapeutic Use of Traditional Chinese Medicine

“…In rats with liver cirrhosis induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl 4 ), Artesunate (an extract of Artemisia annua ) has been shown to increase levels of Lactobacillus and Eubacterium , thereby reducing the concentration of proinflammatory IL-6 and TNF- α , reducing injury to the intestinal mucosa, and decreasing the numbers of translocated bacteria [ 77 ]. TCM compounds, such as Qushi Huayu decoction and Erzhi pills, are also capable of modifying the composition of the intestinal flora, which can affect fatty liver disease [ 73 , 87 ].…”