Network pharmacology-based investigation on the mechanisms of action of Morinda officinalis How. in the treatment of osteoporosis

Liu ZW, Luo ZH, Meng QQ, Zhong PC, Hu YJ, Shen XL · Computers in Biology and Medicine · 2020 December

DOI 10.1016/j.compbiomed.2020.104074

Objective

To investigate Morinda officinalis How. mechanism of action as an anti-osteoporotic herb.

Conclusions

M. officinalis contains potential anti-osteoporotic active compounds. These compounds function by regulating the proteins implicated in ovarian steroidogenesis-related pathways that are crucial in estrogen biosynthesis. Our study provides new insights into the development of a natural therapy for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis.

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Insights

Ba Ji Tian may prevent osteoporosis through the ovarian steroidogenesis signaling pathway. The anti-osteoporosis targets of Ba Ji Tian mainly play a role in the response to steroid hormones.

A total of 17 active compounds and 93 anti-osteoporosis targets of M. officinalis were selected for analysis. The GO enrichment analysis results indicated that the anti-osteoporosis targets of M. officinalis mainly play a role in the response to steroid hormone. The KEGG pathway enrichment analysis showed that M. officinalis prevents osteoporosis through the ovarian steroidogenesis signaling pathway. Moreover, the molecular docking results indicated that bioactive compounds (morindon, ohioensin A, and physcion) demonstrated a good binding ability with IGF1R, INSR, ESR1, and MMP9.