OBJECTIVE To analyse and predict the potential quality markers(Q-Marker) of Desmodium microphyllum (Thunb.) DC. which based on the "Five Principles" of quality markers, network pharmacology, molecular docking techniques and characteristic HPLC chromatograms.
METHODS The "drug-ingredient-target-pathway" network was constructed by network pharmacology method to predict the potential Q-Marker of Desmodium microphyllum. The characteristic chromatograms of 12 batches of Desmodium microphyllum were established by HPLC. The potential Q-Marker of Desmodium microphyllum were further verified.
RESULTS Based on the "Five Principles" of Q-Marker, 7 potential Q-Marker of Desmodium microphyllum were selected. Six potential Q-Marker were identified by network pharmacology. The characteristic chromatograms of 12 batches of Desmodium microphyllum were established. Six common peaks were calibrated and two of them were identified, they were isoorientin and orientin, respectively. It was further confirmed that isoorientin and orientin could be used as potential Q-Marker of Desmodium microphyllum.
CONCLUSION The established characteristic HPLC chromatograms method is stable and feasible, and the two differential ingredients of isoorientin and orientin screened can be used as potential Q-Marker of Desmodium microphyllum, which provided reference for the quality control and pharmacological mechanism research of Desmodium microphyllum.