Paeoniae Radix Alba and Network Pharmacology Approach for Osteoarthritis: A Review

Abstract

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common type of arthritis and affects more than 240 million people worldwide; the most frequently affected areas are the hips, knees, feet, and hands. OA pathophysiology is multifactorial, involving genetic, developmental, metabolic, traumatic, and inflammation factors. Therefore, treatments able to address several path mechanisms can help control OA. Network pharmacology is developing as a next-generation research strategy to shift the paradigm of drug discovery from “one drug, one target” to “multi-component, multi-target”. In this paper, network pharmacology is employed to investigate the potential role of Paeoniae Radix Alba (PRA) in the treatment of OA. PRA is a natural product known for its protective effects against OA, which has recently drawn attention because of its ability to provide physiological benefits with fewer toxic effects. This review highlights the anti-inflammatory properties of PRA in treating OA. PRA can be used alone or in combination with conventional therapies to enhance their effectiveness and reduce side effects. The study also demonstrates the use of network pharmacology as a cost-effective and time-saving method for predicting therapeutic targets of PRA in OA treatment.