Integrating network pharmacology and bioinformatics to explore and experimentally verify the regulatory effect of Buyang Huanwu decoction on glycolysis and angiogenesis after cerebral infarction

This study aimed to explore the effect of BHD on angiogenesis after glycolysis regulation in CI. Materials and

BHD can regulate glycolysis and promote angiogenesis after CI through multiple pathways and targets, in which AMPK signalling pathway activation may be important.

According to the 21 active BHD ingredients we identified by our research team, we conducted network pharmacology. BHD targets that can regulate glycolysis and angiogenesis after CI were screened from the GeneCards, CTD and OMIM databases. We retrieved CI-related datasets from the GEO database and screened for differentially expressed lncRNAs and miRNAs. LncRNA‒miRNA-mRNA/TF targeting relationships were screened and organized with the miRcode, miRDB, TargetScan, miRWalk, and TransmiR v2.0 databases. Cytoscape was used to construct an lncRNA‒miRNA-mRNA/TF ceRNA network. Through BioGPS, key mRNAs/TFs in the network were screened for enrichment analysis. Animal experiments were then conducted to validate some key mRNAs/TFs and enriched signalling pathways.

PFKFB3 and other genes may help regulate glycolysis and angiogenesis through AMPK and other signalling pathways. The anti-CI effect of BHD may involve maintaining activation of genes such as AMPK and PFKFB3 in the ischaemic cortex, maintaining moderate glycolysis levels in brain tissue, and promoting angiogenesis.