Objective  To analyze the target pathway of Rubia yunnanensis in the treatment of uterine fibroids (UF) using network pharmacology, verify the stability of the binding of its active components to related targets through molecular docking technology, and prouid a basis for its clinical application.

Methods  The effective components of Rubia yunnanensis were collected and the relevant targets in the databases of TCMSP, SwissTargetPrediction and PubChem were obtained. The UF targets were collected in the GeneCards and DisGeNET databases, and the intersection genes were constructed on the Venny 2.1 platform. Protein-protein interaction network was constructed. GO and KEGG enrichment analyses were performed based on DAVID database. Finally, molecular docking of drug active ingredients and targets was performed using AutoDockTools software to verify its feasibility and rationality.

Results  A total of 44 drug active components, 602 drug targets, 1,076 targets for uterine fibroids, and 74 common drug-disease targets of Rubia yunnanensis were screened out. Enrichment analysis of the KEGG pathway yielded 89 signal pathways, and enrichment analysis of the GO pathway yielded 181 results. Among them, the pathways in cancer, prostate cancer, endocrine resistance, and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) resistance, lipid and atherosclerosis signaling pathways were closely related to the treatment of UF. The results of molecular docking further verified that the core components and core targets of Rubia yunnanensis could bind effectively to exert therapeutic effects.

Conclusion  The main active components of Rubia yunnanensis may regulate multiple targets such as phosphoinositide-3-kinase regulatory subunit 1 (PIK3R1), SRC, estrogen receptor 1 (ESR1), EGFR, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF), and regulate multiple signaling pathways including cancer signaling pathways, prostate cancer, endocrine antagonistic pathways, lipid and uterine fibroid signaling pathways. It can treat UF through anti-hormone, anti-tumor activity, anti-inflammatory, and anti-proliferative effects.

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