Objective: To investigate the mechanism underlying the effects of Shichangpu (Rhizoma Acori Tatarinowii) on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Methods: A network pharmacology approach integrating ingredients of Shichangpu (Rhizoma Acori Tatarinowii) and target with ADHD, network construction, molecular function interactions and pathway analysis was used.
Results: This approach successfully helped to identify 7 active ingredients of CN, interacting with 21 key targets (ADRA1A, ADRA1B, ADRA2A, ADRA2B, ADRA2C, ADRB1, ADRB2, CHRM1, CHRM2, CHRM3, PTGS1, SLC6A2, SLC6A3, SLC6A4, DRD1, DRD5, HTR2A, ADRA1D, MAOB, GRIA2, HTR1A). The molecular function interactions among candidate targets mainly consisted of four groups: G-protein coupled amine receptor activity, catecholamine binding, monoamine transmembrane transporter activity and neurotransmitter receptor activity. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment analysis indicated that Shichangpu (Rhizoma Acori Tatarinowii)-regulated pathways were mainly classified into signal transduction and monoamine neurotransmitters.
Conclusion: Our investigation revealed that Shichangpu (Rhizoma Acori Tatarinowii) could improve the symptoms of ADHD by regulating neurotransmitter, in multiple types of compounds-target-pathway, which may be implicated in the major pathological processes of ADHD.
Keywords: Attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity; Pharmacology; Plants, medicinal; Shichangpu (Rhizoma Acori Tatarinowii).