Molecular Targets and Associated Potential Pathways of Danlu Capsules in Hyperplasia of Mammary Glands Based on Systems Pharmacology

Abstract

Hyperplasia of mammary glands (HMG) is common in middle-aged women. Danlu capsules (DLCs) can effectively relieve pain and improve clinical symptoms and are safe for treating HMG. However, the active substances in DLCs and the molecular mechanisms of DLCs in HMG remain unclear. This study identified the bioactive compounds and delineated the molecular targets and potential pathways of DLCs by using a systems pharmacology approach. The candidate compounds were retrieved from the traditional Chinese medicine systems pharmacology (TCMSP) database and analysis platform. Each candidate’s druggability was analyzed according to its oral bioavailability and drug-likeness indices. The candidate proteins and genes were extracted in the TCMSP and UniProt Knowledgebase, respectively. The potential pathways associated with the genes were identified by performing gene enrichment analysis with DAVID Bioinformatics Resources 6.7. A total of 603 compounds were obtained from DLCs, and 39 compounds and 66 targets associated with HMG were obtained. Gene enrichment analysis yielded 10 significant pathways with 34 targets. The integrated HMG pathway revealed that DLCs probably act in patients with HMG through multiple mechanisms of anti-inflammation, analgesic effects, and hormonal regulation. This study provides novel insights into the mechanisms of DLCs in HMG, from the molecular level to the pathway level.