Background:As a traditional Chinese medicine, Danshen shows potential efficacy
for treating ulcerative colitis (UC). However, the bioactive components and mode of action were
unclear.Aim of this Study:This paper uses a combination of network pharmacology, serum medicinal
chemistry, and gene expression profiling to clarify its possible molecular mechanism of action
and material basis.Methods:Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS) was
utilized to analyze the herbal components and metabolites from the serum of Danshen-treated
mice. Gene expression profiles were applied to construct a database of Danshen action targets.
Then, active ingredient-target-biological functional module networks were constructed to analyze
the mechanism of action. Molecular docking has further confirmed the possibility of its
components to the targets.Results:As a result, 193 common targets between 1684 Danshen-related DEGs and 1492 UC
targets were determined as the potential targets for Danshen in treatment with UC. Serum
pharmacochemistry and target prediction showed that 22 components in serum acted on
777 targets. Intersection with common targets yielded 46 core targets, and an active ingredienttarget-
biological functional module network was constructed for analysis. Network prediction
and molecular docking results showed that the main action modules were inflammatory response
and cell apoptosis, which mainly acted on targets SRC, RELA, HSP90AA1, CTNNB1,
STAT3, and CASP3. The main components of Danshen intervention in UC were predicted to
include Catechol, 3,9-Dimethoxypterocarpan, 8-Prenylnaringenin, Isoferulic acid, Salvianolic
acid C, and Danshensu.result:As a result, 193 common targets between 1684 Danshen-related DEGs and 1492 UC targets were determined as the potential targets for Danshen in treatment with UC. Serum pharmacochemistry and target prediction showed that 22 components in serum acted on 777 targets. Intersection with common targets yielded 46 core targets, and an active ingredient-target-biological functional module network was constructed for analysis. Network prediction and molecular docking results showed that the main action modules were inflammatory response and cell apoptosis, which mainly acted on targets SRC, RELA, HSP90AA1, CTNNB1, STAT3, and CASP3. The main components of Danshen intervention in UC were predicted to include Catechol, 3,9-Dimethoxypterocarpan, 8-Prenylnaringenin, Isoferulic acid, Salvianolic acid C, and Danshensu. The present study provides a scientific foundation for further explicating the mechanisms of Danshen against UC.Conclusion:The present study provides a scientific foundation for further explicating the
mechanisms of Danshen against UC.