Synergistic action of the Daphnes Cortex and Liquorice Root herb pair in rheumatoid arthritis treatment: A network pharmacology strategy

Abstract

The combination of Daphnes Cortex (DC) and Liquorice Root (LR), two traditional Chinese medicinal herbs, has shown significant therapeutic effects on rheumatoid arthritis (RA), but its synergistic mechanism of action remains to be elucidated. Employing a network pharmacology and molecular docking approach, this study systematically investigated the synergistic mechanism of the herb pair DC and LR in RA treatment. Active components and their corresponding targets were retrieved from the TCMSP database and relevant literature, and RA-related targets were collected from established disease databases. A total of 73 overlapping targets between DC-LR and RA were identified, among which core targets such as AKT1, TNF, and CASP3 were highlighted. GO and KEGG enrichment analyses revealed that these targets are involved in biological processes such as oxidative stress response and cell migration, and are significantly enriched in key pathways including HIF-1, TNF, and PI3K-Akt signaling pathways. Compatibility analysis further revealed that the combination of DC and LR may enhance therapeutic effects through synergistic regulation of shared targets and complementary modulation of upstream and downstream pathway components. Molecular docking confirmed strong binding affinities between core active components and key targets. This study provides a multi-dimensional "component-target-pathway" perspective on the potential synergistic anti-RA mechanism of the DC-LR herb pair, offering a theoretical basis for further experimental validation and clinical application.

Keywords

Daphnes Cortex / Liquorice Root / rheumatoid arthritis / synergistic action / network pharmacology

Acknowledgements

This study was supported by National Training Program of Innovation and Entrepreneurship for Undergraduates (202510163044).

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