OBJECTIVE  To study the difference of Huangqin decoction combined with Paeoniae Radix Alba(BS) and Paeoniae Radix Rubra(CS)'s effect on ulcerative colitis(UC) based on network pharmacological analysis and animal experiment.

METHODS  The active constituents of BS and CS were retrieved from TCMSP database and literature, and the potential target was predicted by Swiss Target Prediction. Ulcerative Colitis was used as key words to search disease targets in DisGenet, OMIM, and Genecard databases. The intersection target was obtained by Venny 2.1.0. Cytoscape 3.7.2 software was used to construct network of drug-consumption targets. The STRING platform was used for protein-protein interaction(PPI) network analysis, and Metascape database was applied for GO/WIKI analysis. A dextran sulfate sodium(DSS) induced UC mouse model was established to compare the anti-UC effects of Huangqing decoction combined with BS(HQT-BS) and CS(HQT-CS), respectively.

RESULTS  There were 7 active components of HQT-BS and 11 active components of HQT-CS in the treatment of ulcerative colitis, respectively, 5 of which were the same. There were 146 and 157 targets respectively, 106 of which were the same. The core targets of HQT-BS were SRC, HSP90AA1, and PIK3R1, while the core targets of HQT-CS were SRC, HSP90AA1, and STAT3. WIKI enrichment analysis showed that several signaling pathways were shared by both BS and CS, such as EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor resistance, Notch signaling pathway. EGF/EGFR signaling pathway was the specific pathway related to BS, while Nuclear receptors meta-pathway and Kit receptor signaling pathway were the specific pathways related to CS, respectively. Animal experiments showed that both HQT-BS and HQT-CS could significantly improve colon shortening and tissue pathological alternation induced by DSS. However, HQT-CS was more effective in reducing the expression of interleukin-6 and neurogenic locus notch homolog protein1.

CONCLUSION  Both HQT-BS and HQT-CS have anti-UC effect, and HQT-CS is the better one.