Integrated GNPS Molecular Networking and Network Pharmacology Uncover Methylophiopogonanone B as a Novel Anti-Inflammatory Agent From Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua Targeting the SRC-PI3K-Akt Pathway.
Abstract
Inflammation is a defensive immune response to tissue damage or infection. Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua (P. cyrtonema Hua, PCH) is bioactive on immune homeostasis due to its rich components and reportedly plays a therapeutic role in the treatment and prevention of diabetes. Flavonoids of PCH possess anti-inflammatory properties, but their molecular mechanisms remain elusive. Here, chemical profiling of key flavonoids was conducted using UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS and the Global Natural Products Social Molecular Networking (GNPS) platform. Network pharmacology predicted potential targets and pathways, validated by molecular docking, surface plasmon resonance (SPR), and western blotting. Totally, 67 compounds were identified, with methylophiopogonanone B (MOB) as the key bioactive flavonoid. Although MOB's anti-inflammatory activity has been previously noted, the present study provides the first evidence that this effect may be mediated through targeting SRC and modulating the PI3K/AKT signaling axis. Core therapeutic targets were identified as SRC, TNF, and AKT1 by topological analysis of network pharmacology. Molecular docking and SPR confirmed strong MOB-SRC binding affinity. Western blotting revealed MOB dose-dependently inhibited LPS-induced phosphorylation of SRC, PI3K, and AKT1, without altering total protein levels. Furthermore, MOB significantly suppressed the phosphorylation of NF-κB pathway proteins IκB and p65, confirming the involvement of NF-κB as a downstream effector. In conclusion, this study integrates chemical profiling and network pharmacology with experimental validation to define the flavonoid composition of PCH, and is the first to implicate the SRC-PI3K-Akt pathway in MOB's anti-inflammatory action and providing novel evidence supporting the mechanism and use of PCH in contemporary diabetes treatment.