Network Pharmacology and Molecular Docking Reveal the Multi-Target Anti-Osteoporosis Mechanism of Bushen Huoxue Decoction.

INTRODUCTION

Traditional Chinese medicine, especially Bushen Huoxue decoction, has demonstrated good therapeutic effects in the treatment of intervertebral disc degeneration and osteoarthritis, but its mechanism of action in osteoporosis remains unclear. This study aimed to explore its potential mechanisms against osteoporosis.

METHODS

Active components of Bushen Huoxue decoction were identified through searching the TCM databases. Osteoporosis-related genes were retrieved from three disease databases. Common targets were used to construct a PPI network. Functional enrichment analyses (GO and KEGG), molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulations, and literature validation were performed.

RESULTS

A total of 112 active compounds and 343 potential targets were identified. Key bioactive ingredients included quercetin, luteolin, kaempferol, wogonin, and baicalein. The decoction appeared to act via multiple pathways, such as TNF, NF-κB, MAPK, PI3K/Akt, Wnt/β-catenin, HIF-1, FoxO, AMPK, mTOR, and VEGF, affecting inflammation, metabolism, cell proliferation, survival, and angiogenesis.

DISCUSSION: Bushen Huoxue decoction likely exerted anti-osteoporotic effects through a multi-- component, multi-target, and multi-pathway approach, consistent with current understanding of osteoporosis mechanisms. However, as this study was based on network pharmacology and computational analysis, experimental validation is needed.

CONCLUSION

Bushen Huoxue decoction showed promise as a potential treatment for osteoporosis through complex regulatory mechanisms. The findings provided a theoretical basis for further pharmacological research and TCM-based drug development.