Revealing the anti-inflammatory mechanisms of Bupleurum chinense DC. through network pharmacology and experimental validation

A comprehensive approach combining network pharmacology, molecular docking and in vitro validation was used to systematically elucidate anti-inflammatory mechanisms of bioactive ­compounds from the Bupleurum chinense DC aerial parts. Compound-Target network and PPI network were developed, followed by GO and KEGG enrichment analyses. Molecular docking evaluated the binding affinities between key compounds and targets. Anti-inflammatory activity was further validated in vitro using LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophage models, with gene expression evaluated via qRT-PCR. A total of 39 active compounds were identified, with PTGS2, TNF-α and IL-2 emerging as central targets. KEGG analysis highlighted notable involvement of the PI3K-Akt, MAPK and AGE-RAGE signalling pathways. Notably, compounds such as Isorhamnetin, Quercetin and Saniculamoid D suppressed NO production and pro-inflammatory cytokine expression in vitro. These findings underscore their potential as promising therapeutic sources for treating inflammatory diseases.