Network Pharmacology-Based Analysis Reveals the Mechanisms of the Tibetan Medicinal Plant Meconopsis quintuplinervia Against COPD and NAFLD: Insights from LC-MS/MS Profiling and Antioxidant/Anti-Inflammatory Activities

<i>Meconopsis quintuplinervia</i> is traditionally used in Tibetan medicine for diseases of the lung and liver. This study investigated the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of its extract (MQ extract), analyzed its chemical composition, and explored the potential therapeutic mechanisms against chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) using network pharmacology. MQ extract demonstrated effective scavenging of DPPH and ABTS radicals, with activity comparable to ascorbic acid and Trolox. In cellular assays, the extract dose-dependently reduced ROS levels in H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>-induced B16-F10 and RAW264.7 cells and significantly inhibited NO production in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages. Quantitative analysis showed total phenolic content of 90.54 ± 0.91 mg/g and total flavonoid content of 44.48 ± 0.43 mg/g. LC-MS/MS analysis identified taxifolin as the predominant constituent at approximately 2.39%. Network pharmacology and molecular docking studies revealed that flavonoids including catechin, isorhamnetin, kaempferol, luteolin, naringenin, nobiletin, quercetin, and taxifolin interacted with therapeutic targets for COPD and NAFLD. These compounds likely exerted effects by inhibiting NF-κB signaling, downregulating pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β), and enhancing antioxidant enzyme activities (SOD), while also reducing hepatic lipid accumulation through SREBP-1 suppression. Our findings elucidated why Tibetan medicine traditionally uses <i>M. quintuplinervia</i> to treat pulmonary and hepatic disorders.

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Journal
Current Issues in Molecular Biology
Published
2026-02-03
DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/cimb48020176
Primary Topic
Flavonoids in Medical Research
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00

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article

Network Pharmacology-Based Analysis Reveals the Mechanisms of the Tibetan Medicinal Plant Meconopsis quintuplinervia Against COPD and NAFLD: Insights from LC-MS/MS Profiling and Antioxidant/Anti-Inflammatory Activities

Fangfang Chen, Chunyan Chen, Mingjing Chen, Yiyu Chen et al.
Current Issues in Molecular Biology
Flavonoids in Medical Research
article

Network Pharmacology-Based Analysis Reveals the Mechanisms of the Tibetan Medicinal Plant Meconopsis quintuplinervia Against COPD and NAFLD: Insights from LC-MS/MS Profiling and Antioxidant/Anti-Inflammatory Activities

Fangfang Chen, Chunyan Chen, Mingjing Chen, Yiyu Chen, Yu-Pei Chen
article en

Abstract

<i>Meconopsis quintuplinervia</i> is traditionally used in Tibetan medicine for diseases of the lung and liver. This study investigated the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of its extract (MQ extract), analyzed its chemical composition, and explored the potential therapeutic mechanisms against chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) using network pharmacology. MQ extract demonstrated effective scavenging of DPPH and ABTS radicals, with activity comparable to ascorbic acid and Trolox. In cellular assays, the extract dose-dependently reduced ROS levels in H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>-induced B16-F10 and RAW264.7 cells and significantly inhibited NO production in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages. Quantitative analysis showed total phenolic content of 90.54 ± 0.91 mg/g and total flavonoid content of 44.48 ± 0.43 mg/g. LC-MS/MS analysis identified taxifolin as the predominant constituent at approximately 2.39%. Network pharmacology and molecular docking studies revealed that flavonoids including catechin, isorhamnetin, kaempferol, luteolin, naringenin, nobiletin, quercetin, and taxifolin interacted with therapeutic targets for COPD and NAFLD. These compounds likely exerted effects by inhibiting NF-κB signaling, downregulating pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β), and enhancing antioxidant enzyme activities (SOD), while also reducing hepatic lipid accumulation through SREBP-1 suppression. Our findings elucidated why Tibetan medicine traditionally uses <i>M. quintuplinervia</i> to treat pulmonary and hepatic disorders.

Current Issues in Molecular BiologyVol. 48(2)
Xiamen Medical College, Xiamen University of Technology (CN)
Natural Science Foundation of Fujian Province
Good health and well-being
Openalex Percentile: Top 67%
Flavonoids in Medical Research
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