Shandong Science

   

Exploring the mechanisms underlying the differencesin the “warming the middle to dispel cold” effects of dried and baked ginger based on UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS combined with network pharmacology

LI Junxian1,2, LIU Shuang1,2, MI Yuzhang1,2, LUTengfei1,2, WANG Xiao1,2,3, DONG Hongjing1,2,3*,LIU Ziyao1   

  1. 1. School of pharmacy, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan 250300, China;2. Shandong Engineering Research Center for Innovation and Application of General Technology for Separation of Natural Products, Shandong Analysis and Test Center, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan250014, China ;3. Key Laboratory for Natural Active Pharmaceutical Constituents Research in Universities of Shandong Province, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan 250014, China
  • Received:2025-02-12 Accepted:2025-04-20 Online:2025-11-19
  • Contact: DONG Hongjing E-mail:donghongjing_2006@163.com

Abstract: Ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS) was used to analyze the differences in chemical composition of dried and baked ginger.Then, network pharmacology was applied to investigate the mechanisms underlying their differences in efficacy. The chemical components of dried and baked ginger were analyzed using UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS, and the differential compounds were screened using partial least squares-discriminant analysisand random forest methods. SuperPRED and GeneCards databases were employed to retrieve drug and disease targets, respectively.Common targets were identified using Venn diagram mapping. Protein–protein interaction networks were constructed using the STRING database, and key targets were subjected to Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analyses using the DAVID database.The UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS identified 61 chemical components, screening out 13 differential compounds (e.g., 7-gingerol, 12-gingerol, and gingerenone A). The network pharmacology results revealed that dried ginger mainly acts on targets such as MAPK1, PTGS1, and OPRD1, mediating the expression of signaling pathways such as interleukin-17, toll-like receptor, and TNF to alleviate inflammatory responses, exerting a “warming the middle to relieve pain” effect. Baked ginger mainly targets APEX1, SLC6A5, and NFKB1, mediating the HIF-1 signaling pathway, neurotrophin signaling pathways, and apoptosis to block pain signal transmission, exerting a “warming the middle to dispelling cold” effect. By integrating chemical composition analysis and network pharmacology, this study elucidated the mechanisms underlying the distinct therapeutic effects of dried and baked ginger, providing a scientific basis for their clinical applications.

Key words: dried ginger, baked ginger, UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS, network pharmacology, differences in efficacy

CLC Number: 

  • R285

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