Identifying the active compounds and mechanism of action of TongFu XieXia Decoction for treating intestinal obstruction using network pharmacology combined with ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-orbitrap mass spectrometry

RationaleTongFu XieXia Decoction (TFXXD), a formulation rooted in traditional Chinese medicine and optimized through clinical practice, serves as an advanced version of the classic Da Cheng Qi decoction used for treating intestinal obstruction (IO), demonstrating significant therapeutic efficacy. However, due to the intricate nature of herbal compositions, the principal constituents and potential mechanisms of TFXXD have yet to be clarified. Accordingly, this study seeks to identify the active compounds and molecular targets of TFXXD, as well as to elucidate its anti-IO mechanisms.MethodsQualitative identification of the principal constituents of TFXXD was accomplished using ultra-high preformance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-orbitrap mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-Orbitrap-MS/MS) analysis. PharmMapper facilitated the prediction of potential molecular targets, whereas protein-protein interaction analysis was conducted using STRING 11.0. Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment analyses were performed using the Metascape database. A "compounds-target-pathway" network was meticulously constructed within Cytoscape 3.8.2. Finally, molecular docking studies were performed to investigate the interactions between the core target and the crucial compound.ResultsUPLC-Q-Orbitrap-MS/MS analysis identified 65 components with high precision and sensitivity. Furthermore, 64 potential targets were identified as integral to TFXXD bioactivity in IO treatment. Gene Ontology enrichment analysis revealed 995 distinct biological functions, while the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analysis identified 143 intricate signaling pathways.ConclusionMolecular docking studies substantiated the substantial affinity between the TFXXD bioactive constituents and their corresponding targets in the context of IO. TFXXD exerts its therapeutic efficacy in IO through a multifaceted interplay between multiple compounds, targets, and pathways. The integration of network pharmacology with UPLC-Q-Orbitrap-MS/MS has emerged as a promising strategy to unravel the intricate web of molecular interactions underlying herbal medicine. However, it is imperative to emphasize the necessity for further in vivo and in vitro experiments.