Network pharmacology and experimental validation to reveal the anti-hepatitis B virus pharmacological mechanism of Phyllanthus urinaria L.

Background: To explore the pharmacological mechanism of the anti-hepatitis B virus of Phyllanthus urinaria L. through network pharmacological analysis and experimental validation. Method: The active ingredient, target of action and target of action related to hepatitis B were clarified by searching the herb group identification, GeneCards and OMIM databases, and the protein interaction relationship was obtained by using the String database, and the protein interaction network map was constructed by using Cytoscape software. We also performed gene ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analysis of key targets of the anti-hepatitis B action of Phyllanthus urinaria L. and predicted the core targets and pathways of Phyllanthus urinaria L. anti-hepatitis B. The main targets predicted by network pharmacology were then validated by HepG2.2.15 cell experiments. Results: By searching active ingredient targets and hepatitis B disease targets, a total of 19 active ingredients and 64 related targets of action were retrieved from Phyllanthus urinaria L., and a total of 51 common targets were obtained by mapping the obtained hepatitis B disease targets and drug targets. protein protein interaction network analysis indicated that targets including TNF, JUN, AKT1, IL-10, IL-1B, CAT, HMOX1, NFE2L2, and CASP3 and other targets may be the core targets.gene ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analysis showed that the treatment of hepatitis B by Phyllanthus urinaria L. mainly included inflammation and oxidation-related processes, and the signaling pathways mainly included fluid shear stress and atherosclerosis, VEGF, and hepatocellular carcinoma. The results of the in vitro test showed that after the action of different concentrations of the extracts of the Phyllanthus urinaria L. in the safe concentration range on cells HepG2.2.15, HBsAg, HBeAg and hepatitis B virus DNA levels were significantly inhibited, and NFE2L2 and HMOX1 were affecting hepatitis B virus transcription and replication by regulating the oxidative stress response. Conclusion: Using an integrated network pharmacology approach, this study revealed the active components and potential targets of Phyllanthus urinaria L. for the treatment of the hepatitis B virus, providing a theoretical basis for the research and clinical application of Phyllanthus urinaria L..