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  4. Vol 3, Issue 2, 2025

Exploring the Mechanism of Action of the Lung-Tonifying and Blood-Activating Formula in Treating the Stable Phase of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Based on Network Pharmacology and Molecular Docking Technology

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DOI: 10.23977/medbm.2025.030203 | Downloads: 1 | Views: 29

Author(s)

Li Shanshan 1, Li Xiaodan 2

Affiliation(s)

1 Graduate School, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
2 The Second Affiliated Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China

Corresponding Author

Li Xiaodan

ABSTRACT

This study employs a combined approach of network pharmacology and molecular docking techniques to systematically investigate the active constituents, target molecules, and molecular mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of the Lung-Nourishing and Blood-Activating Formula in treating chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Through database screening using TCMSP alongside literature review, 82 active components and 946 drug targets were identified. A total of 1132 COPD-related targets were collected from GeneCards, NCBI, and DisGeNET databases, yielding 111 common targets upon intersection. Cytoscape was employed to construct an "active component-target" network, STRING analysed protein interactions, and GO and KEGG enrichment analyses were conducted using R. Results revealed 3,918 entries in the GO analysis, while KEGG analysis indicated 238 potential signalling pathways involved. Molecular docking further demonstrated strong binding affinity between key active components and core targets in the formula. Conclusions suggest that the Lung-Nourishing and Blood-Activating Formula may treat COPD through multi-component, multi-target, and multi-pathway synergistic effects. Its mechanism likely involves regulating signalling pathways such as JAK-STAT, NF-κB, PI3K/AKT, and MAPK to suppress inflammatory responses.

KEYWORDS

Bufei Huoxue Formula, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, network pharmacology, molecular docking

CITE THIS PAPER

Li Shanshan, Li Xiaodan, Exploring the Mechanism of Action of the Lung-Tonifying and Blood-Activating Formula in Treating the Stable Phase of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Based on Network Pharmacology and Molecular Docking Technology. MEDS Basic Medicine (2025) Vol. 3: 15-27. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.23977/medbm.2025.030203.

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