An integrated widely targeted metabolomics and network pharmacology study of Persicaria runcinata var. Sinensis against arthritis

The present study aimed to investigate the material basis of Persicaria runcinata var. sinensis (Hemsl.) Bo Li using widely targeted metabolomics and network pharmacology techniques. Efforts were also made to establish a DNA barcode for P. runcinata var. sinensis. Widely targeted metabolomics technique of Ultra performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry(UPLC-MS/MS) was employed to detect and analyze the metabolites in P. runcinata var. sinensis. Network pharmacology was used to screen and analyze metabolites with high content and pharmacological effects. DNA extraction, Polymerase chain reaction(PCR) amplification, sequence alignment, and phylogenetic tree construction were performed to establish the DNA barcode. A total of 716 metabolites were detected in Miao ethnomedicine P. runcinata var. sinensis, with key targets, enriched functions, and pathways identified using network pharmacology. The DNA sequence for the ITS2 primer of P. runcinata var. sinensis was determined and a phylogenetic tree was generated. Metabolite enrichment in P. runcinata var. sinensis revealed potential therapeutic compounds for arthritis. The study's approach provided theoretical support for understanding the substance basis and therapeutic effects of P. runcinata var. sinensis. Additionally, the high homology level with various Polygonum species provided the foundation for molecular identification in ethnomedicine.