The Mechanism of Chaiyin Particles in the Treatment of COVID-19 Based on Network Pharmacology and Experimental Verification

Introduction: To explore the potential active components of Chaiyin particles (CYPs) in the treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and their mechanism of action by using network pharmacology and molecular docking technology.Methods: Based on the components of CYPs, we obtained potential targets of the interaction between CYPs and COVID-19. The potential targets were analyzed by protein-protein interaction (PPI), Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analyses. The key active components of CYPs were subjected to molecular docking with 3-chymotrypsin-like protease (3CLpro), angiotensin-converting enzyme Ⅱ (ACE2), RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) and papain-like protease (PLP). The components that may bind to the key target proteins of COVID-19 were screened to obtain the potential active components, targets and pathways for CYPs treatment of COVID-19. Finally, the above network analysis results were verified through experiments.Results: CYPs may prevent and treat COVID-19 by inhibiting the release of inflammatory factors such as IL-6 and TNF-α, participating in the AGE-Rage signaling pathway, the HIF-1 signaling pathway and other anti-inflammatory, antiviral and immune regulatory signaling pathways, and blocking ACE2 via fortunellin and baicalin.Conclusion: CYPs mainly play an anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory role in the prevention and treatment of COVID-19. The potential active components and molecular mechanism of CYPs can provide theoretical support and a pharmacological basis for further development and utilization of CYPs as well as the prevention and treatment of COVID-19.