Investigating material basis and molecular mechanism of Qing Cuo formula in the treatment of acne based on animal experiments, UPLC-LTQ-Orbitrap-MS and network pharmacology

Abstract

Context

Qing Cuo Formula (QCF) is a traditional Chinese medicine for treating acne, but its active compounds and molecular mechanisms are unclear.

Objective

To investigate the material basis and molecular mechanism of QCF.

Materials and methods

In vivo experiments were conducted on 60 male golden hamsters with damp-heat acne, with a blank group, a spironolactone group and 3 QCF administration groups (given high, medium and low doses) over a 30-day period. Serum androgen and inflammatory cytokine levels were tested by ELISA. In vitro, chemical compositions of QCF were investigated by UPLC-LTQ-Orbitrap-MS. Network pharmacology approaches were used to analyse the protein–protein interaction (PPI) network and QCF active compounds-intersection targets-acne network. GO enrichment and KEGG pathway analysis was conducted subsequently.

Results

Low-dose QCF group (11.4 g/kg/day) showed significantly reduced levels of serum T (4.94 ± 0.36; 5.51 ± 0.36 ng/mL), DHT (6.67 ± 0.61; 8.09 ± 0.59 nmol/L), E2 (209.01 ± 20.92; 237.08 ± 13.94 pg/mL), IL-1α (36.84 ± 3.23; 44.07 ± 4.00 pg/mL) and FFA (128.32 ± 10.94; 148.00 ± 12.12 µmol/L) compared to the blank group (p < 0.05). In vitro experiments identified 75 compounds in QCF decoction, with 27 active compounds absorbed in serum. Network pharmacology identified 6 active components connecting 17 targets. GO enrichment and KEGG pathway analysis indicated that QCF’s anti-acne targets mainly regulate extracellular matrix function, inflammatory processes, immune response and endocrine function.

Conclusions

This study provides evidence of the molecular mechanism and material basis of QCF in treating androgen-related damp-heat acne, paving the way for further research on its potential in treating other conditions related to damp-heat constitution.

Keywords:

• TCM formula
• pharmacological effect
• serum medicinal chemistry
• androgens
• inflammatory cytokines
• TCM constitution

Author contributions

Yanqi Cao: Data curation and analysis, Writing – Original draft. Jinfeng Liang: Methodology, Formal analysis, Writing – Original draft. Chunguo Wang: Data analysis, Writing – Review & Editing. Siqi Li and Xuejie Bao: Data curation. Bin Zeng: Visualization. David Humberto Lopez: Writing – Review & Editing. Ruoxi Yu: Conceptualization, Writing – Review & Editing.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

The datasets used and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Additional information

Funding

This study is supported by Wang Qi Workshop on Teaching Teachers (No. MSGZF-201803), Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (No. 2016-JYB-JSMS-017).