Elucidating the active ingredients and potential anti-inflammatory mechanism of Qingwei Huanglian Wan

Qingwei Huanglian Wan (QHW) is a traditional Chinese medicine used for treating inflammation. As the compositions of QHW preparations are complex and varied, it has proven difficult to identify the active ingredients in QHW and control the quality. In this study, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) fingerprints, network pharmacology, molecular docking, and the Griess method were used to screen for and verify the potential active ingredients of QHW. First, sixteen batches of QHW were studied as two groups using multivariate statistical analysis. Thirteen peaks were detected in the HPLC results to establish a fingerprint similarity model, and six chemical constituents (phellodendrine hydrochloride, geniposide, berberine hydrochloride, baicalin, wogonoside, and glycyrrhizic acid) were identified. Among these six constituents, four components (glycyrrhizic acid, berberine hydrochloride, baicalin, and wogonoside) were considered as potential active ingredients. Second, network pharmacology, molecular docking, and the Griess method were used to further elucidate the potential active ingredients. There was no significant difference in the NO content of the active ingredients administration group (dose converted into the medium-dose group) and medium-dose QHW administration group. Then, the contents of berberine hydrochloride, baicalin, wogonoside, and glycyrrhizic acid were determined using the HPLC method. This study provides a comprehensive and reliable strategy for the quality control of QHW preparations and identifies potential active ingredients in QHW. Our methodology may also be useful for studying other traditional Chinese medicines.