Abstract

In this study, we explored the mechanism of Guizhi Fuling capsules for treating chronic pelvic inflammatory disease. The anti-inflammatory effect of Guizhi Fuling capsule is significant, and its active ingredients can also be used as materials, but its mechanism of action is still unclear. Drug components and chronic pelvic inflammatory disease targets of Guizhi Fuling capsules were obtained using traditional Chinese medicine systems pharmacology, PubChem, SwissTarget prediction and GeneCards databases. We obtained intersection targets through network construction using the Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes database, and the key drug components and core targets were screened using Cytoscape software. The targets were subjected to gene ontology and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes enrichment analysis using the webbased gene set analysis. Molecular docking, conducted using AutoDock software identified 69 active ingredients in Cinnamon twig and Poria capsule and 2917 genes related to chronic pelvic inflammatory disease. We found 61 drug disease intersection targets, and 33 key targets based on maximal clique centrality score and degree screening parameters. The biological process enrichment analysis includes response to alkaloids, muscle cell proliferation, etc. where the main cellular components are dopaminergic synapse which includes dopamine binding 3',5' cyclic adenosine monophosphate and immunological synapse. The binding energies of catechin, paeoniflorin and mairin with tumor necrosis factor, interleukin-6 and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma were >-5 kcal/mol^-1. Guizhi Fuling capsule can be used to treat chronic pelvic inflammatory disease due to the multiple active ingredients and targets acting on multiple pathways.