Anti-obesity Mechanism of Sophora japonica L. through Network Pharmacology and Molecular Docking Technology

Objective: The mechanism of action of Sophora japonica L. on obesity was studied and investigated by network pharmacology combined with molecular docking. Methods: The active ingredients and targets of Sophora japonica L. were searched using the TCMSP platform, and the targets were calibrated using the Uniprot database to collect targets related to obesity diseases, and the intersection map of Sophora japonica L. targets and obesity targets was constructed using Venny2.1. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis was performed on the intersection targets of Sophora japonica L. and obesity by String12.0, and the PPI network map of Sophora japonica L.-obesity targets was drawn using Cytoscape3.7.2. GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses of key active components of Sophora japonica L. and obesity disease targets were performed on the Metascape platform, and molecular docking and visualisation of the screened targets were performed using AutoDockTools1.5.7 and PyMOL2.1.1. Results: Sophora japonica L. had 70 relevant targets capable of acting on obesity diseases, and the major active components included quercetin, kaempferol, isorhamnetin, β-sitosterol, and the core targets included AKT1, IL6, PPARG, and so on. GO enrichment analysis showed that the active components of Sophora japonica have anti-obesity effects on biological processes such as organic nitrogen compounds, and the response to lipids and lipopolysaccharides and so on. KEGG pathway analysis revealed the results of lipid and atherosclerosis, AGE-RAGE, and atherosclerosis. sclerosis, AGE-RAGE, HIF-1, IL-17, and many other signalling pathways with anti-obesity effects. The molecular docking results showed that the core active components of Sophora japonica L. and the corresponding targets docked well. Conclusion: The present study demonstrated that Sophora japonica L. exerted its anti-obesity effects through multiple targets, components, and pathways, which would provide a theoretical basis and methodology for further research on the effective components and molecular mechanisms of Sophora japonica L..