Exploring mechanism of licorice-Houttuynia cordata-Eucommia ulmoides leaves in enhancing immune level of chickens based on network pharmacology and molecular docking

DUAN Hengxuan; XIA Yuqin; YU Jiaxuan; CUI Yutong; WEI Chunbo

doi:10.13557/j.cnki.issn1002-2813.2025.09.013

Abstract：The study aimed to explore the potential mechanism of a traditional Chinese medicine compound composed of licorice,Houttuynia cordata and Eucommia ulmoides leaves in regulating the immune function of chickens.The active ingredients and related targets of the compound were obtained by using databases such as the Systematic Pharmacology Analysis Platform for Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCMSP),and the immune-related targets were searched through the NCBI and Gene Cards databases.The intersection of the two was taken to obtain the intersection target.Protein-protein interaction(PPI)network analysis was conducted on these targets.Further enrichment analysis of the GO pathway and KEGG pathway was carried out,and components and related targets were selected for molecular docking simulation.The results showed that a total of 90 main active components were identified,including key components such as kaempferol,quercetin and glycyrrhizin B.A total of 251 immune-related genes were obtained,and the PPI network included key targets such as tyrosine kinase(SRC),signal transducer and activator of transcription 3(STAT3),phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate 3-kinase catalytic subunit alpha(PIK3CA),B-cell lymphoma 2(BCL2),phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase regulatory subunit 1(PIK3R1)and caspase 3(CASP3).The GO function analysis involved 153 biological process entries(BP),34 cellular component entries(CC),and 67 molecular function entries(MF).The KEGG enrichment analysis showed 38 signaling pathways,and the molecular docking results indicated that most binding energies were less than-4.25 kJ/mol,demonstrating good docking activity.The study indicates that the TCM compound composed of licorice,Houttuynia cordata and Eucommia ulmoides leaves acts on key targets such as SRC,STAT3,PIK3CA,BCL2,PIK3R1 and CASP3 through effective active components like kaempferol,quercetin and glycyrrhizin B.This research provides a reference for the development of new and safe feed additives.