Network Pharmacology-Based Prediction of the Mechanisms of a Traditional Thai Herbal Formula for Diabetes Treatment

Abstract

Diabetes is among the top five leading causes of mortality in Thailand, with a rapidly increasing number of affected individuals each year. Traditional Thai medicine has long utilized a polyherbal formulation composed of honey, Andrographis paniculata, Tinospora crispa (L.), Curcuma longa L., and Orthosiphon aristatus for diabetes management. These medicinal herbs are known for their hypoglycemic and antioxidant properties. However, the pharmacological mechanisms, biological activities, and phytochemical profiles of this formulation remain largely unexplored. This study employs network pharmacology to predict the potential biological activities of a 40% ethanol extract of the herbal formula. Swiss TargetPrediction was utilized to identify target proteins, while KEGG pathway enrichment analysis was conducted to map relevant signaling pathways. Additionally, protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks were constructed using the STITCH database to elucidate molecular interactions. The findings suggest that the herbal formula exerts its therapeutic effects through multiple pathways, including nitrogen metabolism, steroid hormone biosynthesis, ovarian steroidogenesis, EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor resistance, cancer-related pathways, endocrine resistance, and metabolic pathways. These insights provide a scientific foundation for further experimental validation and the potential integration of this traditional formulation into diabetes management strategies.