title: Network pharmacology-based prediction of the active ingredients and potential targets of Mahuang Fuzi Xixin decoction for application to allergic rhinitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Certain herbal formulae from Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) are effective for treating and preventing diseases in clinical practice. Mahuang fuzi Xixin Decoction (MFXD) is a TCM that is used to treat allergic rhinitis (AR); however, the active ingredients and potential targets of its action against AR remain unclear. Therefore, further investigation is required.
  
  
  METHODS
  A network pharmacology approach comprising drug-likeness evaluation, oral bioavailability prediction, multiple drug target prediction, and network analysis has been used in this study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The comprehensive systematic approach was successfully to indentify 41 bioactive ingredients in MFXD, while 37 potential targets hit by these ingredients related to AR. Moreover, wherein four predicted ingredients possess anti-inflammatory effects were found by this technique.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our works successfully predict the active ingredients and potential targets of MFXD for application to allergic rhinitis and helps to illustrate mechanism of action on a systematic level. This study not only provides new insights into the chemical basis and pharmacology of MFXD but also demonstrates a feasible method for discovering potential drugs from herbal medicine.
authors.affiliation: School of Traditional Chinese Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, 510515 Guangzhou, PR China; Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Pharmaceutics, Southern Medical University, 510515 Guangzhou, PR China.
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.affiliation: School of Traditional Chinese Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, 510515 Guangzhou, PR China; Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Pharmaceutics, Southern Medical University, 510515 Guangzhou, PR China.
authors.forename: Qingfa
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, PR China.
authors.forename: Yuanxin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.affiliation: School of Traditional Chinese Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, 510515 Guangzhou, PR China.
authors.forename: Qin
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.affiliation: School of Traditional Chinese Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, 510515 Guangzhou, PR China; Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Pharmaceutics, Southern Medical University, 510515 Guangzhou, PR China.
authors.forename: Yao
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: School of Traditional Chinese Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, 510515 Guangzhou, PR China; Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Pharmaceutics, Southern Medical University, 510515 Guangzhou, PR China. Electronic address: tanxm_smu@163.com.
authors.forename: Xiaomei
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Tan
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001682:Biological Availability; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D015232:Dinoprostone / Q000378:metabolism; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional; D008954:Models, Biological; D010600:Pharmacology / Q000379:methods; D051381:Rats; D065631:Rhinitis, Allergic
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; C000611220:mahuang fuzi xixin; D015232:Dinoprostone
keywords: Allergic rhinitis; Dibutyl phthalate (PubChem CID: 3026); Herbacetin (PubChem CID: 5280544); Mahuang Fuzi Xixin Decoction; Network pharmacology; Pseudoephedrine (PubChem CID: 7028); Salsolinol (PubChem CID: 91588); Traditional Chinese Medicine