Network pharmacology and molecular docking reveal the immunomodulatory mechanism of rhubarb peony decoction for the treatment of ulcerative colitis and irritable bowel syndrome

Background: Ulcerative colitis (UC) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) share various similarities in clinical symptoms, pathogenesis, and treatment. UC concurrent IBS tends toward more severe symptoms and worse prognosis, and promising feasible therapies for the overlapping symptoms remains a challenge. Rhubarb peony decoction (RPD) is a well-known traditional Chinese medicine that has been widely applied in treating UC. RPD may exert extensive therapeutic effects on both IBS and UC. However, the common mechanism of its treatment remains unclear. We aimed to assess the potential pharmacological mechanism of RPD in the treatment of overlapping IBS and UC. Methods: The active components and targets of RPD were retrieved from ETCM, TCMSP, BATMAN-TCM, and TCM databases. The disease targets were screened by searching the DrugBank, OMIM, TTD, and PharmGKB databases. PPI network analysis was performed and visualized via the STRING platform and Cytoscape software. GO and KEGG enrichment analyses of the hub genes of RPD were predicted to elucidate the potential molecular mechanism. Subsequently, molecular docking was carried out to verify the combination of active compounds with core targets. Results: By integrating all targets of RPD and disease, a total of 31 bioactive ingredients were identified including quercetin, kaempferol, aloe-emodin, beta-sitosterol, and (+)-catechin, etc. JUN, TP53, MAPK1, RELA, MYC, and ESR1 were explored as potential therapeutic targets among 126 common drug-disease-related targets. They were enriched in the AGE-RAGE signaling pathway in diabetic complications, as well as the NF-kappa B signaling pathway and MAPK signaling pathway. Additionally, some active ingredients were identified as candidates for binding to the hub targets via molecular docking, further suggesting their anti-inflammatory and antioxidative properties. Conclusion: RPD may exert the overall treatment effect for UC and IBS overlap syndrome via the biological mechanism of "multi-ingredients, multi-targets, and multi-pathways" on inflammation, oxidative stress, immune, oncogenicity, and gut microbiota dysbiosis.