Network pharmacology-based identification of key pharmacological pathways of Yin–Huang–Qing–Fei capsule acting on chronic bronchitis

Figures & data

Figure 1 Whole framework of this study based on network pharmacology for deciphering pharmacological mechanisms of YHQFC acting on chronic bronchitis.

Abbreviations: YHQFC, Yin–Huang–Qing–Fei capsule; OMIM, Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man; PPI, protein–protein interaction.

Table 1 Potential target overlaps among 14 herbs of YHQFC

Herbs	SCP (464)	XJYZH (901)	ZS (607)	CSL (53)	MMH (1135)	PPY (491)	ZBM (513)	YXY (1535)	GC (950)	SSG (197)	DQY (881)	BTLZ (119)	WWZ (463)	KXR (890)
SCP (464)	–	224	305	21	244	129	139	385	279	57	280	44	293	275
XJYZH (901)	224	–	375	25	661	412	294	808	482	69	321	118	299	510
ZS (607)	305	375	–	14	392	255	230	518	417	70	202	110	393	327
CSL (53)	21	25	14	–	27	11	53	34	53	8	53	1	9	33
MMH (1135)	244	661	392	27	–	346	241	908	535	91	514	73	274	405
PPY (491)	129	412	255	11	346	–	190	426	287	48	165	112	219	270
ZBM (513)	139	294	230	53	241	190	–	443	297	54	231	112	178	348
YXY (1535)	385	808	518	34	908	426	443	–	719	118	622	119	418	690
GC (950)	279	482	417	53	535	287	297	719	–	88	330	104	309	451
SSG (197)	57	69	70	8	91	48	54	118	88	–	44	13	57	64
DQY (881)	280	321	202	53	514	165	231	622	330	44	–	50	163	315
BTLZ (119)	44	118	110	1	73	112	112	119	104	13	50	–	107	115
WWZ (463)	293	299	393	9	274	219	178	418	309	57	163	107	–	251
KXR (890)	275	510	327	33	405	270	348	690	451	64	315	115	251	–

Note: Numbers shown within parentheses show total putative targets of each herb.

Abbreviations: YHQFC, Yin–Huang–Qing–Fei capsule; SCP, Shi Chang Pu (Acorus tatarinowii Schott); XJYZH, Xin Jiang Yi Zhi Hao (Artemisia rupestris L.); ZS, Zhi Shi (Citrus aurantium L.); CSL, Chuan Shan Long (Dioscorea nipponica Makino); MMH, Mi Ma Huang (Ephedra sinica Stapf); PPY, Pi Pa Ye (Eriobotrya japonica (Thunb.) Lindl.); ZBM, Zhe Bei Mu (Fritillaria thunbergii Miq.); YXY, Yin Xing Ye (Ginkgo biloba L); GC, Gan Cao (Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch.); SSG, Sheng Shi Gao (Gypsum Fibrosum); DQY, Da Qing Ye (Isatis indigotica Fort.); BTLZ, Bei Ting Li Zi (Lepidium apetalum Willd.); WWZ, Wu Wei Zi (Schisandra chinensis [Turcz.] Baill.); KXR, Ku Xing Ren (Semen Armeniacae Amarum).

Table 2 Main KEGG pathways significantly relating to major hubs

KEGG pathways	Counts	P-value
hsa04664:Fc epsilon RI signaling pathway	34	2.36×10^−16
hsa04662:B cell receptor signaling pathway	31	3.96×10^−14
hsa04660:T cell receptor signaling pathway	34	1.41×10^−11
hsa04620:Toll-like receptor signaling pathway	29	6.16×10^−9
hsa04080:Neuroactive ligand–receptor interaction	46	8.02×10^−7
hsa04621:NOD-like receptor signaling pathway	19	1.62×10^−6
hsa04270:Vascular smooth muscle contraction	26	3.58×10^−6
hsa04630:Jak-STAT signaling pathway	31	8.62×10^−6
hsa04650:Natural killer cell-mediated cytotoxicity	27	2.89×10^−5
hsa04060:Cytokine–cytokine receptor interaction	36	0.003305
hsa05310:Asthma	8	0.008380
hsa05130:Pathogenic Escherichia coli infection	10	0.045010

Abbreviation: KEGG, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes.

Figure 2 Herb-major hub-pathway network.

Notes: Green diamonds represent each herb in YHQFC; round nodes represent putative targets of constituent compounds of YHQFC; nodes marked with red rings represent known therapeutic targets in the treatment of chronic bronchitis. Blue hexagons represent main pathways from enrichment analysis of major targets. Edges represent interactions among herbs, putative targets, and known therapeutic targets for the treatment of chronic bronchitis.
Abbreviations: YHQFC, Yin–Huang–Qing–Fei capsule; SCP, Shi Chang Pu (Acorus tatarinowii Schott); XJYZH, Xin Jiang Yi Zhi Hao (Artemisia rupestris L.); ZS, Zhi Shi (Citrus aurantium L.); CSL, Chuan Shan Long (Dioscorea nipponica Makino); MMH, Mi Ma Huang (Ephedra sinica Stapf); PPY, Pi Pa Ye (Eriobotrya japonica (Thunb.) Lindl.); ZBM, Zhe Bei Mu (Fritillaria thunbergii Miq.); YXY, Yin Xing Ye (Ginkgo biloba L); GC, Gan Cao (Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch.); SSG, Sheng Shi Gao (Gypsum Fibrosum); DQY, Da Qing Ye (Isatis indigotica Fort.); BTLZ, Bei Ting Li Zi (Lepidium apetalum Willd.); WWZ, Wu Wei Zi (Schisandra chinensis [Turcz.] Baill.); KXR, Ku Xing Ren (Semen Armeniacae Amarum).

Figure 3 Illustration of the asthma pathway induced by the major putative YHQFC targets and known therapeutic targets of chronic bronchitis.

Abbreviations: YHQFC, Yin–Huang–Qing–Fei capsule; IL, interleukin; APC, antigen-presenting cell; MHC, major histocompatibility complex; Th, T helper; TCR, T cell receptor; BCR, B cell receptor; IgE, immunoglobulin E; LTD4, leukotriene D4; PAF, platelet-activating factor; ECP, eosinophil cationic protein; MBP, myelin basic protein.