Network analysis and experimental verification of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge-Reynoutria japonica Houtt. drug pair in the treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

Network analysis predicted 59 active metabolites and 89 targets of SRDP for the treatment of NAFLD. 112 signaling pathways were enriched for KEGG pathways, including PI3K-AKT signaling pathway,etc. It was confirmed that luteolin, the core active metabolite of SRDP, effectively reduced fat accumulation and intracellular triglyceride content in HepG2 fatty liver cell model. Luteolin could inhibit mTOR pathway by inhibiting PI3K-AKT signaling pathway phosphorylation, thereby activating autophagy to alleviate NAFLD. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The results of this study validate and predict the possible role of various active metabolites of SRDP in the treatment of NAFLD through multiple targets and signaling pathways. The core active metabolite of SRDP, luteolin can alleviate NAFLD by acting on the PI3K-AKT-mTOR signaling pathway to induce autophagy.