Mechanisms and Molecular Targets of the Tao-Hong-Si-Wu-Tang Formula for Treatment of Osteonecrosis of Femoral Head: A Network Pharmacology Study

Abstract EN

The Tao-Hong-Si-Wu-Tang (THSWT) formula, a classic prescription of traditional Chinese medicine, has long been used for the treatment of osteonecrosis of femoral head (ONFH).

However, its mechanisms of action and molecular targets are not comprehensively clear.

In the present study, the Traditional Chinese Medicine System Pharmacology (TCMSP) database was employed to retrieve the active compounds of each herb included in the THSWT formula.

After identifying the drug targets of active compounds and disease targets of ONFH, intersection analysis was conducted to screen out the shared targets.

The protein-protein network of the shared targets was built for further topological analysis.

Gene ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis were then carried out.

A gene pathway network was constructed to screen the core target genes.

We identified 61 active compounds, 155 drug targets, and 5443 disease targets.

However, intersection analysis only screened out 37 shared targets.

Kaempferol, luteolin, and baicalein regulated the greatest number of targets associated with ONFH.

The THSWT formula may regulate osteocyte function through specific biological processes, including responses to toxic substances and oxidative stress.

The regulated pathways included the relaxin, focal adhesion, nuclear factor-κB, toll-like receptor, and AGE/RAGE signaling pathways.

RELA, VEGFA, and STAT1 were the important target genes in the gene network associated with the THSWT formula for the treatment of ONFH.

Therefore, the present study suggested that the THSWT formula has an action mechanism involving multiple compounds and network targets for the treatment of ONFH.