Network pharmacology approach to screen hypoglycemic extracts from Coptidis rhizoma and study their targets and pathways

Abstract

Purpose: To screen the hypoglycemic active ingredients of Coptidis rhizoma, and study their targets as well as signal pathways via network pharmacology.
 Methods: Fifty-nine ingredients of Coptidis rhizoma were screened. Their targets were confirmed by comparing with the hypoglycemic targets in DrugBank databases. The relationship between ingredients and targets was revealed through String database. The ingredient-target-passageway network was constructed. Coptidis rhizoma was soaked in boiling water and concentrated. Rat models were rendered diabetic by the administration of streptozotocin (STZ) intraperitoneal injection. The hyperglycemic rats received Coptidis rhizoma extract (0.40 g/kg, once a day by gavage).
 Results: After four weeks of treatment, the blood glucose levels (BG) of all treated hyperglycemic rats decreased (p < 0.05). Twenty-four hypoglycemic active compounds were obtained after screening the extract of Coptidis rhizome via network pharmacology. These active compounds activated 13 targets, including D (2) dopamine receptor (DRD2), Insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF1R), 5- hydroxytryptamine receptor 2C (HTR2C), 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor 3A (HTR3A) and sodiumdependent noradrenaline transporter (SLC6A2). These targets were involved in 141 pathways, e.g., cAMP signaling pathway, chemokine signaling pathway, Rap1 signaling pathway, estrogen signaling pathway, and apelin signaling pathway.
 Conclusion: Coptidis rhizoma contains several active compounds that exhibit good hypoglycemic effects. Thus, there is a need for human studies on the hypoglycemic effects of Coptidis rhizome extracts.
 Keywords: Coptidis rhizome; Hypoglycemic effects; Network pharmacology; D (2) dopamine receptor (DRD2); Insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor