The Analgesic Mechanism of Radix Wikstroemia indica “Sweat Soaking Method” Processed Product Based on Metabolomics and Network Pharmacology

Abstract

Background: Miao medicine Radix Wikstroemia indica (RWI) is derived from the root of W. indica (L.) C. A. Mey. which has an analgesic effect, but its mechanism is not clear. Because of the toxicity of RWI, the research group used the “Sweat soaking method” to process RWI in the early stage to reduce its toxicity. Therefore, this study explored the analgesic effect and mechanism of processed RWI through network pharmacology and metabolomics. Purpose: To explore the analgesic effect and therapeutic mechanism of RWI processed by “Sweat soaking method”. Materials and methods: The torsion experiment was carried out with acetic acid. The metabolomic analysis of serum samples was carried out based on 1H-NMR technology, and the intersection targets of RWI and pain diseases were screened by network pharmacology for gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis. Results: RWI has an analgesic effect and is related to metabolites such as 4-pyridoxic acid, l-glutamic acid, and agmatine. It is involved in arginine and proline metabolism, arginine biosynthesis, and alanine, aspartate, and glutamate metabolism. In network pharmacology, there were 404 common targets between RWI and pain diseases, and eight core targets were screened, including SRC, STAT3, and HSP90AA1. GO functional enrichment analysis found that RWI had effects on molecular processes such as protein phosphorylation and response to xenobiotic stimulus, cell composition such as receptor complex and membrane raft, and molecular functions such as enzyme binding. KEGG pathway enrichment analysis obtained 193 pathways. Arginine proline metabolism and nitrogen metabolism are involved in the same pathway as metabolomic analysis. Conclusion: RWI has an analgesic effect, and its therapeutic mechanism mainly involves arginine and proline metabolism.