Identification of Active Cytoprotective Ingredients From Swertia Medicinal Plants Based on Grey Relational Analysis Combined With Molecular Docking

Abstract

IntroductionSwertia species are medicinal plants with Tibetan medicine characteristics.This study compared the protective effects of three Swertia water extracts on the L02 hepatocyte injury model induced by CCl4. MethodsThe main iridoid glycosides in three Swertia species, Swertia bimaculata (Sieb. et Zucc.) Hook. f. et Thoms. ex C. B. Clark (SBH), Swertia mussotii Franch (SMF), and Swertia pseudochinensis Hara, were determined by HPLC. The L02 hepatocyte injury model induced by CCl4 was used to evaluate the pharmacodynamic equivalence and differences among the three Swertia water extracts. The molecular targets of action were further assessed by real-time PCR and grey relational analysis combined with molecular docking analysis. ResultsThe results indicated that SMF contained the highest amount of iridoid glycoside components, especially swertiamarin (SM). The EC50 values of SBH, SMF, and Swertia pseudochinensis Hara were 0.3099, 0.1029, and 0.4531, respectively. Moreover, the three Swertia extracts attenuated L02 hepatocyte injury by regulating the transforming growth factor beta/Smad signalling pathway. Grey relational analysis and molecular docking analysis suggested that SM may be the most effective component for the cytoprotective activity of Swertia plants. ConclusionsIn summary, SMF showed the best comprehensive quality among the three Swertia species, and SM is the main substance that allows Swertia plants to exert their efficacy.