Mechanistic Exploration of Shenling Baizhu Powder in Treating Irinotecan-Associated Diarrhea: A Study Based on Network Pharmacology and Experimental Validation
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Meng Liu,1 Ying Xiong,2 Jun Yuan,3 Qi Jin,3 Jin-Cheng Zhang,2 Run-Jia Shi,2 Zhi-Qiang Cheng1 1Oncology Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Radiation Oncology, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, People’s Republic of China; 3Graduate School, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Zhi-Qiang Cheng, Oncology Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, People’s Republic of China, Email [email protected]: Irinotecan-associated diarrhea (IAD) is a severe adverse effect that limits its clinical utility in cancer therapy. Shenling Baizhu Powder (SLBZP), a traditional Chinese herbal formula, has shown potential in alleviating chemotherapy-induced gastrointestinal toxicity, but its mechanism against IAD remains unclear. This study integrated network pharmacology and experimental validation to systematically explore the therapeutic mechanisms of SLBZP in IAD.Methods: Network pharmacology approaches were employed to identify bioactive components of SLBZP and their targets using the TCMSP database, while IAD-related targets were retrieved from Genecards. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) analysis and KEGG pathway enrichment were performed to pinpoint core targets and signaling pathways. For in vivo validation, an IAD rat model was established via tail vein injection of irinotecan (150 mg/kg), with SLBZP intervention and Gegen Qinlian Decoction (GGQLD) as a positive control. In vitro, LPS-stimulated NCM460 cells were treated with SLBZP water extract. Mechanistic evaluations were performed using molecular biology techniques, including ELISA, qPCR, and Western blotting, to validate the underlying mechanisms.Results: Network pharmacology analysis revealed that SLBZP exerted therapeutic effects against IAD by closely interacting with multiple inflammatory-related targets and pathways. In vivo studies demonstrated that SLBZP significantly ameliorated diarrhea severity, improved histopathological manifestations in intestinal tissues, and suppressed the expression of key inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β). Mechanistically, SLBZP inhibited the aberrant activation of inflammatory signaling pathways, including PI3K/AKT, MAPK, and NF-κB. Consistent findings were observed in vitro, where SLBZP water extract attenuated inflammatory responses in LPS-stimulated NCM460 cells.Conclusion: Integrated network pharmacology analysis and experimental validation demonstrate that SLBZP alleviates IAD primarily by suppressing intestinal inflammatory responses, providing mechanistic evidence to support its clinical application in managing chemotherapy-induced intestinal toxicity.Keywords: Shenling Baizhu Powder, irinotecan-associated diarrhea, network pharmacology, inflammatory response
Authors: Liu M, Xiong Y, Yuan J, Jin Q, Zhang JC, Shi RJ, Cheng ZQ
Language: English
Subfield: Complementary and alternative medicine
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7084771111
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