Anti-inflammatory and inflammasome-modulating effects of Jinmu-Tang, a Korean traditional medicine: Integrated network pharmacology and experimental evaluation in a DSS-induced colitis model

Jinmu-tang (JMT) is a traditional Korean medicine that is clinically used to treat inflammatory bowel conditions. Despite its long-standing use, the pharmacological mechanism of action remains unclear. This study investigated the potential therapeutic effects and underlying signaling pathways of JMT in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced ulcerative colitis using an integrated approach combining network pharmacology with in vitro and in vivo experimental validation. We analyzed 23 active compounds of JMT and predicted their molecular targets using public datasets. The therapeutic efficacy of JMT was evaluated using a DSS-induced colitis mouse model. Colonic tissues were examined using histopathology, immunohistochemistry, and mRNA expression analysis of inflammatory markers. Gut microbiota modulation was assessed using 16S rRNA sequencing and linear discriminant analysis Effect size. The barrier-protective effects of JMT and its major compounds, along with their ability to inhibit inflammasome activation, were investigated using Caco-2 and J774A.1 cells. Network pharmacology analysis of the 23 active compounds revealed the enrichment of inflammation-related biological processes, suggesting potential anti-inflammatory mechanisms. JMT significantly alleviated disease symptoms, reduced inflammatory cytokine expression, and improved intestinal barrier integrity in a DSS-induced colitis mouse model, as confirmed by histological, molecular, and microbiome analyses. In vitro experiments using J774A.1 macrophages demonstrated that treatment with JMT extract and representative compounds suppressed inflammasome activation, as evidenced by reduced IL-1β production, LDH release, and expression of inflammasome-related proteins. JMT exhibited anti-inflammatory effects against ulcerative colitis by targeting inflammation-related pathways and suppressing inflammasome activation, demonstrating its potential as a multi-target therapeutic agent for inflammatory bowel diseases.