Antioxidant Activity and Anti-Inflammatory Potential of Rhododendron dauricum Flowers via UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS Combined with Network Pharmacology and In Vitro Validation

Rhododendron dauricum L. flowers are highly valued as ornamental plants in northern Chinese horticulture, yet while its leaves are well-known for their antitussive and anti-asthmatic effects, the flowers themselves remain an underutilized resource. Oxidative stress and chronic inflammation are intimately intertwined pathological processes that mutually reinforce each other in a self-perpetuating cycle, and current clinical treatments for diseases related to oxidative stress and inflammation have become a significant focus of research. This study investigated the chemical composition and bioactivities of R. dauricum flower extract using UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS, network pharmacology, molecular docking, and in vitro assays. A total of 57 compounds were tentatively annotated in EFRD, with Morin, Quercetin 3-O-α-L-arabinopyranoside and Procyanidin B2 as candidate compounds prioritized through network analysis. Network prediction revealed key targets (STAT3, JUN, ESR1, CXCL8, PTGS2) and pathways (MAPK, AGE-RAGE, PPAR). In vitro, assays demonstrated that EFRD exhibited dose-dependent scavenging of DPPH, ABTS, and superoxide radicals, as well as a dose-dependent suppression of LPS-induced NO, TNF-α, and IL-6 release in RAW 264.7 macrophages, with IC50 values of 16.52, 29.91 and 72.09 μg/mL, respectively, indicating the most potent inhibition of NO. These findings demonstrate that R. dauricum flowers possess dual antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, providing a scientific basis for expanding their medicinal use.