Network pharmacological approach to explore the mechanisms of Lianhua Qingwen capsule in coronavirus disease 2019

Background:This study aimed to explore the molecular mechanisms of the active compounds of Lianhua Qingwen capsule in the treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 by using systemic pharmacology approach.Methods:In this study,network pharmacology methodology was applied,including active chemical component screening,target gene prediction,herbal-compound and compound-target gene network construction,gene enrichment analysis,pathway enrichment analysis and network analysis.Results:Network analysis showed that 3 bioactive ingredients(quercetin,kaempferol,AC1LIUG4)were screened as pivotal ingredients.30 target genes were identified as the anti-coronavirus disease 2019 of Lianhua Qingwen capsule.Among the targets,tumor necrosis factor,JUN(transcription factor AP-1),interleukin 6,vascular endothelial growth factor A,interleukin 1B,interleukin 2,mitogen-activated protein kinases 1 were regulated by various compounds and screened as the core genes of protein-protein interaction network.Nineteen signaling pathways screened by Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment(P<0.05)were enriched on various inflammatory signaling pathways such as interleukin 17 signaling pathway,NF-κB signaling pathway,tumor necrosis factor signaling pathway and C-type lectin receptor signaling pathway.Conclusion:The bioactive compounds in Lianhua Qingwen capsule may have a therapeutic effect on coronavirus disease 2019 by inhibiting cytokine storms by regulating multiple inflammatory signaling pathways.