The UHPLC-Orbitrap MS/MS and Network Pharmacology Strategies Reveal the Active Antioxidants of Bleeding Sap from Sponge Gourd in Treating Tuberculosis

The bleeding sap of <i>Luffa cylindrica</i> (L.) Roem has been used for the treatment of tuberculosis since the record of <i>Supplements to Compendium of Materia Medica</i>. The active components and possible mechanism of it are yet ambiguous. Hence, this study is focused on investigating the possible mechanism underpinning this effect on the perspective of the antioxidant ingredients from the bleeding sap. Through organic solvents extraction, HPLC fractionation, DPPH trials evaluation, and UHPLC-Orbitrap tandem MS identification, a total of 37 compounds were identified from the bleeding sap with the strongest antioxidant ability. Network pharmacology, bioinformatics, and molecular docking as well as literature review revealed 13 compounds, including linoleic acid, abietic acid, and tretinoin, that might exert their anti-tuberculosis function via actions with PPARγ or MAPK pathway. These findings offer guidance for the potential applications of <i>Luffa cylindrica</i> (L.) Roem as a functional food.