China Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Medicine ›› 2026, Vol. 53 ›› Issue (2): 995-1008.doi: 10.16431/j.cnki.1671-7236.2026.02.043

• Basic Veterinary Medicine • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Exploring the Therapeutic Mechanism of Maxing Shigan Decoction Against Mycoplasma bovis Infection Through Network Pharmacology, Molecular Docking, and Cellular Experiments

YU Zhaizhuo1(), ZHANG Liang2,3, CHEN Jiu2,3, WU Zhiyong2,3, ZHU Yangdong1, YAN Bin1(), YANG Hongjun2,3()   

  1. 1.College of Pharmacy,Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine,Jinan 250355,China
    2.Shandong Key Laboratory of Animal Disease Controlling and Breeding,Institute of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine,Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences,Jinan 250100,China
    3.Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Multi-omics,Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs,Jinan 250100,China
  • Received:2025-05-14 Online:2026-02-20 Published:2026-01-27
  • Contact: YAN Bin, YANG Hongjun E-mail:19510156290@163.com;robinyan2002@163.com;yanghongjun166@163.com

Abstract:

Objective Through the use of network pharmacology, molecular docking, and cell experiments, this study aimed to explore the therapeutic mechanism of Maxing Shigan decoction against Mycoplasma bovis infection, providing scientific basis for the modernization of traditional Chinese medicine and new strategies for the treatment of Mycoplasma bovis infection. Method Relying on bioinformatics platforms such as TCMSP, PubChem and SwissTargetPrediction, the active ingredients of the constituent herbs in Maxing Shigan decoction and their related targets were screened. The targets of Mycoplasma bovis related diseases were obtained through GeneCards and OMIM databases. The STRING database was used to construct protein-protein interaction network, and Cytoscape 3.9.1 software was used for network topology analysis. Meanwhile, the DAVID platform was used for GO function and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis. Molecular docking and visualization were completed using PyMOL 2.4.0 and AutoDockTool 1.5.6 software. MDBK cells were divided into blank control group, model group, and low, medium, and high dose groups (2.5, 5 and 10 mg/mL) of Maxing Shigan decoction. Except for blank control group, all other groups were infected with Mycoplasma bovis PG45 with a multiplicity of infection of 1 000 for 4 h. After cleaning, they were replaced with drug containing medium or complete medium, and continued to be cultured for 24 h. Real-time quantitative PCR was used to detect the Ct value and the mRNA expression of relevant inflammatory factors in each group of cells. Result Network pharmacology analysis revealed that Maxing Shigan decoction contained 134 active ingredients, and there were 93 targets related to Mycoplasma bovis-related diseases. A total of 20 intersection targets were identified between them, among which interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), matrix metallo proteinase 9(MMP9), caspase 3 (CASP3) and prostaglandin peroxide synthase 2 (PTGS2) were the key core targets. GO function enrichment analysis mainly involved positive regulation of transcription by RNA polymerase Ⅱ, extracellular space, cytoplasm, nucleus, cytokine activity, etc. KEGG pathway enrichment analysis mainly covered signaling pathways related to IL-17, TNF, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK),etc. The molecular docking results showed that the binding energy of the active ingredients of Maxing Shigan decoction was less than -17.8 kJ/mol, and had good binding ability. Among them, quercetin had the smallest binding energy to CASP3, which was -28.87 kJ/mol. Cell experiments showed that compared with model group, the Ct values were significantly increased (P<0.05), the expression of IL-2 and IL-10 genes were significantly upregulated (P<0.05), while those of IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α, IL-17A,CASP3, MMP9 and PTGS2 genes were significantly downregulated (P<0.05), in each dose group of Maxing Shigan decoction. Conclusion Through network pharmacology prediction and cell experimental validation, this study revealed that Maxing Shigan decoction exered anti-Mycoplasma bovis infection effects by acting on targets such as IL-6, TNF and MMP9, regulating the secretion of inflammatory factors, and inhibiting inflammatory responses.

Key words: Maxing Shigan decoction; Mycoplasma bovis; network pharmacology; molecular docking

CLC Number: