Title:Theoretical Study of the Molecular Mechanism of Maxingyigan Decoction Against COVID-19: Network Pharmacology-based Strategy
VOLUME: 24 ISSUE: 2
Author(s):Mingzhu Wang, Deyu Fu*, Lei Yao and Jianhua Li
Affiliation:Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai
Keywords:TCM formulations, novel coronavirus, COVID-19, network pharmacology, molecular docking, molecular
mechanism.
Abstract:
Aim and Objective: Maxingyigan (MXYG) decoction is a traditional Chinese medicine
(TCM) prescription. However, how MXYG acts against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is
not known. We investigated the active ingredients and the therapeutic targets of MXYG decoction
against COVID-19.
Methods: A network pharmacology strategy involving drug-likeness evaluation, prediction of oral
bioavailability, network analyses, and virtual molecular docking was used to predict the
mechanism of action of MXYG against COVID-19.
Results: Thirty-three core COVID-19-related targets were identified from 1023 gene targets
through analyses of protein–protein interactions. Eighty-six active ingredients of MXYG decoction
hit by 19 therapeutic targets were screened out by analyses of a compound–compound target
network. Via network topology, three “hub” gene targets (interleukin (IL-6), caspase-3, IL-4) and
three key components (quercetin, formononetin, luteolin) were recognized and verified by
molecular docking. Compared with control compounds (ribavirin, arbidol), the docking score of
quercetin to the IL-6 receptor was highest, with a score of 5. Furthermore, the scores of three key
components to SARS-CoV-2 are large as 4, 5, and 5, respectively, which are even better than those
of ribavirin at 3. Bioinformatics analyses revealed that MXYG could prevent and treat COVID-19
through anti-inflammatory and immunity-based actions involving activation of T cells,
lymphocytes, and leukocytes, as well as cytokine–cytokine-receptor interaction, and chemokine
signaling pathways.
Conclusion: The hub genes of COVID-19 helped to reveal the underlying pathogenesis and
therapeutic targets of COVID-19. This study represents the first report on the molecular
mechanism of MXYG decoction against COVID-19.
