Network pharmacology-based prediction of Farfarae Flos and Pseudostellaria heterophylla in asthma treatment

Abstract: Background: Asthma is a prevalent reversible airway disorder. Traditional Chinese medicine herbs Farfarae Flos and Pseudostellaria heterophylla may have therapeutic effects, but their mechanisms remain unclear. Objectives: To identify active components, key targets and molecular mechanisms of these herbs in asthma treatment via network pharmacology, molecular docking and gene expression validation. Methods: Active compounds and targets were screened from TCMSP (OB≥30%, DL≥0.18). Asthma-related targets were retrieved from GeneCards, DrugBank and OMIM. PPI network analysis, GO/KEGG enrichment and molecular docking were performed. PTGS2 expression was validated using GEO data. Results: A total of 176 targets were identified for Farfarae Flos, 74 for Pseudostellaria heterophylla and 242 for asthma, yielding 15 common targets. GO enrichment involved cytokine activity and prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase activity; KEGG highlighted HIF-1, IL-17, C-type lectin and TNF pathways. Docking predicted that quercetin, luteolin and kaempferol had strong binding to PTGS1/PTGS2. PTGS2 expression was significantly upregulated in asthma patients versus healthy controls. Conclusion: These herbs may exert predicted potential activity through multi-component, multi-target and multi-pathway mechanisms, with PTGS1/PTGS2 as core targets and quercetin/luteolin/kaempferol as potential active ingredients.