Based on Proteomics Data Revealing the Potential of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Treating Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Abstract

Introduction: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a chronic functional gastrointestinal disorder characterized by abdominal pain and altered bowel habits. Despite its high prevalence, the etiology of IBS remains elusive, and there is an unmet need for targeted therapeutic interventions. Material and Methods: We initiated our study by conducting a causal analysis of proteomics data from 2941 proteins associated with IBS. Following this, we performed enrichment analysis to identify pathways and processes that may be implicated in the etiology of IBS. Subsequently, we utilized network pharmacology to explore the active compounds in traditional Chinese medicine that target the core proteins identified in our analysis. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics (MD) simulation are used to assess the stability of compound‐protein binding. Results: Our research has identified 169 proteins that have a positive causal relationship with IBS. We found that pathways linked to viruses, immune cells, and cytokines might play a role in IBS. Two traditional Chinese medicines, Phellodendri Amurensis Cortex (PAC) and Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix (ABR), showed potential in treating IBS, possibly through active compounds like quercetin, berberine, and evodiamine, targeting proteins Tumor Protein p53 (TP53), 5 ′ (3 ′ )‐Deoxyribonuclease (NT5E), Jun Proto‐Oncogene (JUN), and major histocompatibility complex (MHC), Class II Invariant Chain (CD74). Additionally, we conducted molecular docking and MD simulations, and the results indicated that each protein has good binding stability with its corresponding compound. Conclusion: These findings not only deepen our understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms of IBS but also indicate potential molecular targets for the development of innovative treatment strategies while highlighting the broad application prospects of traditional Chinese medicine in the field of IBS treatment.