UPLC-MS/MS-Network Pharmacology and Experimental Validation Reveal Active Components of Ficus tikoua for Ameliorating...

Ficus tikoua is a medicinal plant traditionally used to treat jaundice and inflammatory-related diseases. However, the antihepatic fibrosis activity of F. tikoua and its active constituents remain unclear. In this study, a 75% ethanol extract of F. tikoua (FT-D12) was prepared and evaluated for antihepatic fibrosis effects using both in vitro and in vivo models. FT-D12 dose-dependently decreased the expression of fibrosis markers (FN, Collagen I, α-SMA). In mice, it significantly lowered serum levels of AST, ALT, HYP, hepatic levels of PC-III, COL IV, HA, and protein expression of α-SMA and FN. UPLC-MS/MS analysis elucidated 39 components in FT-D12, including 30 flavonoids. Network pharmacology screening highlighted apigenin-7-O-glucoside, quercetin, icariin, syringetin-3-O-glucoside, rutin, isorhamnetin-3-O-glucoside, and kievitone as potential antifibrotic candidates. Quercetin showed the strongest inhibitory effect on Collagen I and FN. Further investigation suggested its antifibrotic mechanism may involve modulation of the EGFR-AKT pathway. These findings provide insight into the anti-hepatic fibrosis properties of F. tikoua.