Chemical Profiling of Fructus Ailanthi and a Network Pharmacology-Based Mechanistic Study in Ulcerative Colitis

Ulcerative Colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory disease. Fructus Ailanthi is traditionally known for its anti-inflammatory properties; however, the exact active ingredients and the mechanisms by which it alleviates UC remain incompletely understood. The study comprehensively analyzed the chemical components of Fructus Ailanthi and quantified its total polyphenol and flavonoid contents. Furthermore, network pharmacology and molecular docking were employed to elucidate the mechanisms and potential targets of Fructus Ailanthi in the treatment of ulcerative colitis.

Qualitative analysis of the components was conducted using preliminary chemical tests and UPLCQ- Orbitrap-MS. Total polyphenols were determined by the Folin-phenol method, and flavonoids were measured using the aluminum nitrate-sodium nitrite colorimetric method.

The findings indicated components including phenols, flavonoids, carboxylic acids, and terpenes. The total polyphenol content was 16.46 ± 0.13 mg·g⁻1, and the total flavonoid content was 14.80 ± 0.41 mg·g⁻¹. Components such as stigmast-4-en-3,6a-diol, kaempferol, and quercetin were identified. Key targets included IL6, TP53, SRC, TNF, and HSP90AA1, and these targets were enriched in the PI3K-Akt, MAPK, and NF-κB signaling pathways. The molecular docking analysis indicated that the active compounds in Fructus Ailanthi exhibited a strong affinity for core targets.

This research elucidated the underlying mechanisms by which Fructus Ailanthi combats ulcerative colitis. Nonetheless, the network of component-target-pathway is grounded in chemical analysis and simulation prediction of components; it is crucial to perform additional cell and animal experiments for validation.

Fructus Ailanthi regulates ulcerative colitis through the mechanism of multi-component-targetpathway synergy. These findings provide a theoretical basis for the development and utilization of Fructus Ailanthi.