Comprehensive characterization of the material basis and network pharmacology of Dan-Shen-Yin in the treatment of gastritis

Objective: Dan-Shen-Yin (DSY), a traditional Chinese medicinal prescription composed of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bge. (DS), Santalum album L. (TX) and Amomum villosum Lour. (SR), has been widely employed in the treatment of gastritis in modern clinical practice and demonstrates excellent therapeutic efficacy. However, the main active ingredient and underlying mechanisms of action remain unclear. The objective is to comprehensively characterize the chemical composition of DSY and elucidate its potential mechanisms in the treatment of gastritis. Methods: The nonvolatile compounds in DSY were analyzed through liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry using the data-dependent acquisition approach, employing an in-house database. The volatile compounds and polysaccharides were detected by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and high-performance liquid chromatography, respectively. Network pharmacology analysis was performed based on the identified compounds. Results: A total of 52 nonvolatile and 15 volatile compounds were identified in DSY decoction, primarily including phenylpropanoids, phenols, flavonoids, and terpenoids. Specifically, 54 compounds were found in DS, 14 in SR, and 8 in TX. DSY polysaccharide consisted of seven kinds of monosaccharides, including mannose, rhamnose, glucuronic acid, galacturonic acid, glucose, galactose, and arabinose, with molar percentages of 0.21%, 0.53%, 0.15%, 4.12%, 6.24%, 18.07%, and 0.84%, respectively. Network pharmacology analysis identified 22 key compounds among the 67 compounds detected. These compounds exert the therapeutic effects through 55 core targets (e.g., interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor, and TP53) and 10 inflammation-related pathways, such as the MAPK and nuclear factor kappa B signaling pathways. Conclusion: This study further enriches the research on the material basis of DSY and reveals that its volatile compounds, nonvolatile compounds, and polysaccharides contribute to its therapeutic efficacy against gastritis. These findings may facilitate further development and application of DSY in gastritis treatment.