Role of jianxin granules in heart failure: evidence from network pharmacology, molecular docking and experimental verification

Jianxin (JX) granules is a traditional Chinese medicine widely used in the treatment of heart failure (HF), but the mechanism is unclear. This study aimed to investigate the mechanism of JX granules in the treatment of HF based on network pharmacology analysis and in-vivo experiments.

A series of network pharmacology methods was employed to ascertain potential targets and critical pathways implicated in the therapeutic action of JX granules against HF. Subsequently, molecular docking was utilized to investigate the binding affinity of key active constituents within JX granules to these targets. In-vivo experiments, echocardiography, hematoxylin and eosin, Masson's trichrome assay, and western blot analysis were conducted to validate the efficacy and mechanism of JX granules in treating rats with HF.

A total of 122 active components, 896 drug targets, 1216 HF-related targets, and 136 targets pertinent to drug-disease interactions were identified. 151 key targets and 725 core clusters were detected through protein-protein interaction network analysis. Among these, interleukin 6 (IL-6), vascular endothelial growth factor a (VEGFA), and serine/threonine kinase 1 (AKT1) were core hub genes. Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis revealed the critical pathways, including epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), advanced glycation end products (AGEs) and their receptors (RAGE) pathway, along with hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) signaling pathway. Molecular docking studies demonstrated high binding affinities between key targets and the pivotal active ingredients of Danshenol A, salvianolic acid B, and arachidonic acid. Furthermore, animal studies corroborated that JX granules improve cardiac function and reduce myocardial fibrosis, potentially by modulating the expression of IL-6, VEGFA, and p-AKT1.

The bioactive components within JX granules, such as Danshenol A, salvianolic acid B, and arachidonic acid may exert therapeutic effects on HF through modulation of IL-6, VEGFA, and AKT1 gene expression. This study provides a scientific basis for subsequent clinical application of JX granules and an in-depth investigation of their mechanisms of action.