Abstract:

The aim of this study was to explore the potential effective ingredients and mechanism of action of Panax quinquefolius L. in anti-aging based on network pharmacology and molecular docking. The anti-aging activity of P. quinquefolius L. was evaluated in a zebrafish aging model. The active ingredients of P. quinquefolius L. and their potential targets related to anti-aging were screened using databases, and protein-protein interaction networks (PPI) were mapped to screen core targets. Enrichment analysis and molecular docking verification of the core targets were performed. SA-β-Gal staining results showed that P. quinquefolius L. exerted significant anti-aging activity.Database screening identified 11 active ingredients and 53 potential core targets of P. quinquefolius L. in anti-aging, such as AKT1, STAT3, and JUN. The results of GO and KEGG analysis showed that the anti-aging effects of P. quinquefolius L. may involve factors including xenobiotic stimulus response, negative regulation of apoptotic processes, PI3K-AKT signaling pathway, ErbB signaling pathway. Molecular docking results showed that polyacetylene PQ-2 and PQ-2 were tightly bound with their core targets, and tight binding was also seen with AKT1 and HRAS with various active ingredients. P. quinquefolius L. may act on multiple targets such as AKT1, HRAS, and MAPK1 through polyacetylene PQ-2, PQ-2, and other ingredients, and then regulate multiple pathways such as endocrine resistance, ErbB signaling pathway, and other mechanisms to exert an anti-aging effect.Collectively, these dataprovide a theoretical basis for the application of P. quinquefolius L. in anti-aging.

Key words: Panax quinquefolius L., anti-aging, network pharmacology, molecular docking, mechanism of action, zebrafish model