Prediction of the Medicinal Mechanisms of Pinellia ternata Breitenbach, a Traditional Medicine for Gastrointestinal Motility Disorders, through Network Pharmacology

Abstract

Pinellia ternata Breitenbach (PTB) is a widely used herbal medicine in China, Japan, and South Korea. It has antiemetic, anti-inflammatory, antitussive, and sedative properties. The raw material is toxic, but can be made safer using alum solution or by boiling it for a long time. In addition, PTB seems to be effective for gastrointestinal motility disorders (GMDs), but this is yet to be conclusively proven. Herein, PTB compounds, targets, and related diseases were investigated using the traditional Chinese medical systems pharmacology database and an analysis platform. Information on target genes was confirmed using the UniProt database. Using Cytoscape 3.8.2, a network was established and GMD-related genes were searched using the Cytoscape stringApp. The effects of the PTB extract on the pacemaker potential of interstitial cells of Cajal and GMD mouse models were investigated. In total, 12 compounds were found to target 13 GMD-related genes. In animal experiments, PTB was found to better regulate pacemaker potential in vitro and inhibit GMD signs compared to control groups in vivo. Animal studies showed that the mechanism underlying the effects of PTB is closely related to gastrointestinal motility. The results obtained demonstrated that PTB offers a potential means to treat GMDs, and we suggested that the medicinal mechanism of GMDs can be explained by the relationship between 12 major components of PTB, including oleic acid, and 13 GMD-related genes.

Network Pharmacological Analysis and Experimental Validation of the Effect of Smilacis Glabrae Rhixoma on Gastrointestinal Motility Disorder

“…Research on gastrointestinal motility abnormalities in traditional medicine has been actively conducted [ 31 ]. It was found that the possibility of controlling gastrointestinal movement and reduced gastrointestinal movement increased due to various traditional medicines, such as Pyungwi-san [ 32 ], Lizhong Tang [ 33 ], Poncirus trifoliate fruit [ 34 ], So-Cheong-Ryong-Tang [ 35 ], San-Huang-Xie-Xin-tang [ 36 ], Schisandra chinensis [ 37 ], Ge-Gen-Tang [ 38 ], Liriope Platyphylla Wang Et tang [ 39 ], Hwangryunhaedok-tang [ 40 ], Gamisoyo-San [ 41 ], Banhasasim-Tang [ 42 ], and Pinellia ternata Breitenbach [ 43 ]. In order for the oriental medical approach to become an efficient approach in controlling gastrointestinal motility, large-scale clinical studies are needed to prove the reproducibility and validity of the effects.…”