Utilizing network pharmacology to explore the underlying mechanism of Cinnamomum cassia Presl in treating osteoarthritis

Objective: The network pharmacology method was adopted to establish the relationship between “Ingredients-Disease Targets-Biological Pathway”, screen the potential target of Cinnamomum cassia Presl in treating osteoarthritis (OA), and explore the underlying mechanism. Methods: Chemical components and selected targets related to Cinnamomum cassia Presl were retrieved from BATMAN-TCM. OA disease targets were searched from TTD, DrugBank, OMIM, GAD, PharmGKB, and DisGeNET databases. Canonical SMILES were obtained from Pubchem, and targets were obtained from SwissTargetPrediction. We constructed a target interaction network graph by using the STRING database and Cytoscape 3.2.1, and screened key targets by using the MCC algorithm of cytoHubba. Enrichment analysis of the GO function and KEGG pathway was conducted using the DAVID database. Results: Eighteen active compounds derived from Cinnamomum cassia Presl and 40 intersections between Cinnamomum cassia Presl and OA were obtained. Ten key targets were screened by the MCC algorithm, including PTGS2, MAPK8, MMP9, ALB, MMP2, MMP1, SERPINE1, TGFB1, PLAU, and ESR1. The GO analysis consisted of 33 enrichment results, including biological processes (e.g., collagen catabolic process and inflammatory response), cell composition (e.g., extracellular space and extracellular matrix), and molecular function (e.g., heme binding and aromatase activity). A total of 32 pathways were enriched by KEGG, including osteoclast differentiation, arachidonic acid metabolism, hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1, nuclear factor кB (NF-кB), Toll-like receptors (TLRs), and tumor necrosis factor (TNF). Conclusion: This study predicted the main possible mechanism of Cinnamomum cassia Presl in treating OA, including anti-inflammation, regulating cellular proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis, and antioxidation, which provided a theoretical basis for exploring active ingredients and experimental research about Cinnamomum cassia Presl against OA.