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  4. Vol 7, Issue 3, 2025

Network Pharmacology and Molecular Docking Analysis of Mahuang Fuzi Xixin Decoction for Arrhythmia

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DOI: 10.23977/medcm.2025.070313 | Downloads: 0 | Views: 34

Author(s)

Nuan Cui 1,2, Jiahao Ye 3, Hao Liang 3

Affiliation(s)

1 Institute of TCM Diagnostics, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, No.300 of Xueshi Road, Science-education Industrial Park, Yuelu Region, Changsha, 410208, P.R.China
2 Provincial Key Laboratory of TCM Diagnostics, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, No.300 of Xueshi Road, Science-education Industrial Park, Yuelu Region, Changsha, 410208, P.R.China
3 Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, No.300 of Xueshi Road, Science-education Industrial Park, Yuelu Region, Changsha, 410208, P.R.China

Corresponding Author

Hao Liang

ABSTRACT

This study employed integrated network pharmacology and molecular docking to elucidate how Mahuang Fuzi Xixin Decoction (MFXD) counters cardiac arrhythmia. Bioactive compounds and targets of Ephedra sinica, Aconitum carmichaelii, and Asarum heterotropoides were retrieved from BATMAN‑TCM, while arrhythmia‑related genes were compiled from GeneCards, DisGeNET, and NCBI. Overlapping targets defined the MFXD–arrhythmia set used to construct an arrhythmia–MFXD–compound–target network in Cytoscape and a STRING protein–protein interaction (PPI) network; functional annotation used GO and KEGG enrichment in R, and representative interactions were evaluated with AutoDock Vina. In total, 273 bioactive compounds and 78 shared targets were identified; PPI analysis highlighted six hubs (INS, TNF, IL6, ALB, TP53, PPARG). GO analysis yielded 2,048 significant terms and KEGG identified 158 pathways, prominently oxytocin signaling, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and cAMP signaling. Docking showed broadly favorable affinities (mostly ≤ −6.0 kcal·mol⁻¹), with the most favorable scores for TP53–3beta‑Hydroxyurs‑12‑En‑28‑Syre (−8.2 kcal·mol⁻¹), ALB–quercetin (−8.1 kcal·mol⁻¹), and PPARG–quercetin (−7.9 kcal·mol⁻¹). Collectively, these findings indicate that MFXD exerts anti‑arrhythmic effects through coordinated, multi‑component modulation of inflammatory, metabolic, and ion‑channel processes across convergent signaling pathways, providing a pharmacological rationale for its clinical application in arrhythmia management.

KEYWORDS

Mahuang Fuzi Xixin Decoction, molecular docking, network pharmacology, cardiac arrhythmia

CITE THIS PAPER

Nuan Cui, Jiahao Ye, Hao Liang, Network Pharmacology and Molecular Docking Analysis of Mahuang Fuzi Xixin Decoction for Arrhythmia. MEDS Chinese Medicine (2025) Vol. 7: 97-105. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.23977/medcm.2025.070313.

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