Insights Into the Mechanism of Treatment of Ulcerative Colitis With Preprocessed and Postprocessed Dried Ginger by Integrating Serum Pharmacochemistry With Network Pharmacology and Harmacological Validation

Serum pharmacochemistry was applied to identify the blood-absorbed constituents of dry ginger (DG) and processed ginger (PG). Network pharmacology was employed to construct compound-target-pathway interaction networks, which were further validated through molecular docking to assess the binding affinities between ligands and key targets. Furthermore, a dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced murine model of ulcerative colitis (UC) was established to systematically investigate the multi-target regulatory mechanisms of DG and PG. The processing of DG transforms gingerols into shogaols, thereby modifying its bioactive composition and physiological functions. DG, which is rich in 6-gingerol, mitigates intestinal inflammation through the inhibition of the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, whereas PG increases the levels of shogaols and zingerone, promoting gut barrier restoration and reducing occult bleeding. Our findings illustrate how processing alters the functional properties of ginger, offering valuable insights for the development of ginger-derived products tailored to specific gastrointestinal health benefits.