Potential Action Mechanism of Baicalin on COVID-19 Based on Network Pharmacology

[Objectives]To collect the main active components and targets of baicalein,and to explore the relationship between their targets and COVID-19 and the treatment mechanism of potential unknown targets.[Methods]The 2D and 3D structures of baicalein(CAS:491-67-8)were obtained by searching Pubchem.The predicted target of baicalein was obtained through the Pharmapper website,and the species specific target was obtained by SEA search server.The COVID-19 related genes were obtained in Genecards and OMIM.The Draw Venny Diagram online program was used to establish the visualized network map of“drug-disease-target”with baicalein monomer target and disease common target and Cytoscape(3.7.2)software.The COVID-19 gene was constructed by using Cytoscape plug-in Bisogenet,and protein-protein interaction(PPI)network was constructed by using the baicalein COVID-19 gene.The CytoNCA topology was used to analyze the network topology and construct the core network.The core network genes were analyzed by GO and KEGG.[Results]Through screening,a total of 358 effective target genes of baicalein,23 common targets of baicalein-COVID-19,and 80 genes of PPI core network were obtained.The total of 1648 GO biological processes including DNA metabolism,positive regulation,intracellular receptor signaling pathway,transforming growth factorβreceptor signaling pathway,regulation of apoptotic signaling pathway,RNA polymerase II transcription factor binding,and 115 KEGG-related signaling pathways involving cell cycle pathways,viral oncogenic pathways,Hepatitis B pathway,Hepatitis C pathway,PI3K-Akt pathway,and ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis,etc.[Conclusions]The effect of baicalein on COVID-19 reflects the characteristics of multiple targets,and it can also regulate the occurrence and development of COVID-19 through various channels.This study is expected to provide a certain basis for subsequent experiments.