Network Pharmacology and Rat Model Analysis of Yougui Pill in Carrageenan-Induced Prostatitis

Prostatitis is a common urological disorder with limited treatment options. Yougui Pill (YGP) has shown potential therapeutic value, particularly in inflammation-related conditions. This study aimed to evaluate its effects and explore possible underlying mechanisms. Active components of YGP were screened from TCMSP using oral bioavailability (OB ≥ 30%) and drug-likeness (DL ≥ 0.18) criteria, and corresponding targets were collected. Prostatitis-related targets were obtained from GeneCards, and overlapping targets were analyzed using protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) enrichment. A total of 126 active compounds and 208 potential targets were identified, with 180 overlapping targets associated with prostatitis. PPI analysis identified TP53, IL6, AKT1, TNF, and IL1B as key hub genes. KEGG enrichment suggested involvement of inflammation-related pathways, including IL-17, TNF, MAPK, and PI3K-Akt signaling pathways. A rat model of prostatitis was established by intraprostatic injection of carrageenan. Histological examination and measurement of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were performed to assess therapeutic effects. YGP treatment improved prostatic histopathology and reduced TNF-α and IL-6 levels at both protein and mRNA levels. These findings suggest that YGP exerts anti-inflammatory effects in prostatitis, while the specific molecular mechanisms remain to be further validated.