Potential molecular targets and pathways of a traditional Chinese medicine formula for bovine endometritis identified by network pharmacology

Abstract

Bovine endometritis has become a persistent issue in the global dairy business, resulting in huge economic losses. Due to their numerous positive benefits, Chinese herbal medicines (CHMs) have recently demonstrated remarkable pharmacological potential against endometritis. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects and elucidate the underlying mechanisms of the Yimucao formula (YMF) that involves five herbs in lactation cows under endometritis conditions. Initially, the possible impacts of YMF on cows with endometritis were assessed. Then, using network pharmacology, potential molecular processes by which the YMF prevents endometritis were suggested. The findings demonstrated a considerable improvement in endometritis-related clinical complaints following YMF treatment. Mechanically, 150 active compounds were identified from the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform (TCMSP); of these, quercetin, kaempferol, beta-sitosterol, apigenin, isorhamnetin, and sitogluside were the most prevalent active substances. The NCBI gene, GeneCard, and OMIM databases had 110 genes linked to endometritis. The intersection of these targets with the 213 active ingredient targets produced 17 common targets, of which BCL2, IL-6, MMP9, HIF1α, TNF, IL-1β, and ICAM1 were the top 7 core targets. According to the Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment data, atherosclerosis, fluid shear stress, and the AGE-RAGE signaling pathway are the primary causes of YMF’s anti-endometritis action. Finally, our results indicate that the YMF works on endometritis through various and multi-targeted signaling pathways, which provide reference for clinical practice, based on network pharmacology and molecular docking.