IMR Press / FBL / Volume 28 / Issue 8 / DOI: 10.31083/j.fbl2808164
Open Access Original Research
Exploring the Underlying Mechanism of Alpinia officinarum Hance Ameliorating Diabetic Gastroparesis through Combining Network Pharmacology, Molecular Docking, and in Vivo Experimental Verification
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1 Hepatobiliary and Liver Transplantation Department of Hainan Digestive Disease Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, 571199 Haikou, Hainan, China
2 Hainan Provincial Key Laboratory for Research and Development of Tropical Herbs, Haikou Key Laboratory of Li Nationality Medicine, School of Pharmacy, Hainan Medical University, 571199 Haikou, Hainan, China
*Correspondence: hy0207002@hainmc.edu.cn (Junqing Zhang)
These authors contributed equally.
Front. Biosci. (Landmark Ed) 2023, 28(8), 164; https://doi.org/10.31083/j.fbl2808164
Submitted: 11 January 2023 | Revised: 26 February 2023 | Accepted: 6 March 2023 | Published: 11 August 2023
Copyright: © 2023 The Author(s). Published by IMR Press.
This is an open access article under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Abstract

Background: Alpinia officinarum Hance (AOH) has a long history in China as a Chinese medicine and exerts the pharmacological effects of antidiabetic and gastrointestinal protection. In traditional Chinese medicine theory, AOH is often combined with other Chinese medicines for the treatment of diabetic gastroparesis (DGP). However, the molecular mechanisms, potential targets, and bioactive ingredients of AOH that act against DGP are yet to be elucidated. In this study, network pharmacology, molecular docking, and experimental study were used to predict the therapeutic effects and the potential molecular mechanism of AOH in DGP. Methods: Network pharmacology analysis was performed to acquire information on the active chemical ingredients, DGP-related target proteins in AOH, and potential signaling pathway. In addition, molecular docking approach was used to simulate the binding of drugs and targets. Finally, DGP-mice model was used for experimental verification in vivo. Results: Through the network pharmacological research, AKT1 was found to be the core protein in AOH for the treatment of DGP and was mainly involved in the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway. Additionally, the interactions between bioactive compounds and target proteins (PIK3CA and AKT1) were analyzed using molecular docking, which verified the results of network pharmacology. Further in vivo studies indicated that AOH could reduce fasting blood glucose levels, improve gastric emptying rate, and ameliorate biochemical indicators in DGP mice. Moreover, AOH could increase the expressions and phosphorylation levels of PI3K and AKT in the stomach to regulate oxidative stress. Conclusions: The study has shown that AOH may play a protective role on DGP through mediation of the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway to regulate oxidative stress.

Keywords
Alpinia officinarum Hance
diabetic gastroparesis
network pharmacology
molecular docking
experimental verification
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Funding
ZDYF2022SHFZ305/Key R&D projects in Hainan Province
JBGS202108/Natural Science Research Funding “Jie Bang Gua Shuai” Project of Hainan Medical College
ZDKJ 2019009/Major Science and Technology Projects of Hainan Province in 2019
Hainan Province Clinical Medical Center
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