Exploring the therapeutic mechanism of Simiao pills for hyperuricemia based on network pharmacology and molecular docking

Objective To explore the mechanism of Simiao pills for treatment of hyperuricemia based on network pharmacology and molecular docking. Objective The active ingredients of Simiao pills and their targets of action were predicted using TCMSP, SEA, Swiss and PharmMapper databases. GeneCards and TCD databases were searched for the disease targets related to hyperuricemia. Cytoscape 3.6.1 was used to construct a protein-protein interaction network. GO enrichment analysis and KEGG pathway analysis were carried out on the STRING platform. The binding between the main compounds and the key targets were predicted using the SwissDock platform for molecular docking. Objective We identified 28 active ingredients and 429 potential targets in Simiao pills, 494 disease targets related to hyperuricemia, and 118 common targets between Simiao pills and hyperuricemia. Several key targets including AKT1, IL- 6, JUN, TNF and CASP3 were screened for molecular docking, which had good binding activities with berberrubine, epiberberine, stigmasterol and sitosterol. AKT1, IL-6, JUN, TNF and CASP3 were predicted to be the key targets for Simiao pills for treating hyperuricemia. KEGG pathway enrichment analysis showed that Simiao pills produced therapeutic effects on hyperuricemia through multiple signaling pathways including the TNF signaling pathway, apoptosis signaling pathway and IL-17 signaling pathway. Objective Simiao pills produces therapeutic effects on hyperuricemia through multiple components and targets and the synergy of several pathways. Our finding provides a theoretical basis for further study of the active ingredients and therapeutic mechanism of Simiao pills for treating hyperuricemia.