Page 278 - EJMO-9-2

Eurasian Journal of Medicine

and Oncology

ORIGINAL RESEARCH ARTICLE
Network pharmacology and bioinformatics

reveal the multi-target mechanisms of the
Qiang-gu-jian-shen formula osteoporosis

treatment

Cuicui Zhou , Zarina Awang , and Farra Aidah Jumuddin *
1,2
1
1
1 Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Lincoln University College, Petaling Jaya,
Selangor, Malaysia
2 Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanyang Medical College,
Nanyang, Henan, China
Abstract

Osteoporosis (OP) is a systemic skeletal disease characterized by reduced bone mass and
deteriorated bone microstructure, significantly increasing fracture risk. As global aging
intensifies, OP has become a significant public health issue. Present pharmacological
interventions, such as bisphosphonates and selective estrogen receptor modulators,
are associated with side effects and limitations, highlighting the need for safe and
effective alternatives. This study investigates the potential mechanisms of the Qiang-
gu-jian-shen formula (QGJSF), a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) compound,
*Corresponding author: in treating OP using network pharmacology and bioinformatics. A total of 1,395
Farra Aidah Jumuddin potential targets for QGJSF were identified by querying the TCMSP and BATMAN-TCM
(farraaiadah@lincoln.edu.my) databases and converting targets through UniProt. Cross-referencing with OP-related
Citation: Zhou C, Awang Z, targets from GeneCards, OMIM, and DisGeNET yielded 500 mapped targets. Protein-
Jumuddin FA. Network protein interaction network constructed through the STRING database led to the
pharmacology and bioinformatics
reveal the multi-target mechanisms identification of 69 core targets. An “herb-active component-target” network was built
of Qiang-gu-jian-shen formula using Cytoscape 3.9.0. Gene ontology functional annotation and Kyoto Encyclopedia
osteoporosis treatment. Eurasian J of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment analyses highlighted key pathways,
Med Oncol. 2025;9(2):270-284.
doi: 10.36922/EJMO025150103 including the PI3K/AKT and FoxO. Molecular docking showed that key components,
such as quercetin, dioscin, genistein, calycosin, and berberine, bind favorably to core
Received: April 10, 2025 targets (binding energies < −5 kcal/mol). GEO dataset (GSE5958) analysis identified
Revised: May 13, 2025 seven common core genes, including TGFB1, MMP2, BCL2L1, MAPK3, AKT1, CTNNB1,
Accepted: May 14, 2025 and TP53. The findings suggest that QGJSF may improve OP through multiple
components that regulate osteoblast differentiation, osteoclastogenesis, and activate
Published online: June 18, 2025 key pathways, such as Wnt/β-catenin, PI3K/AKT, and JAK/STAT, thereby enhancing
Copyright: © 2025 Author(s). bone formation and reducing resorption. Core targets such as ESR1, STAT3, AKT1, and
This is an Open-Access article TP53 regulate bone metabolism by modulating osteoblasts, osteoclasts, and their
distributed under the terms of the
Creative Commons Attribution interactions with immune and hematopoietic cells to maintain bone remodeling. This
License, permitting distribution, study advances understanding of QGJSF’s mechanisms and provides a foundation
and reproduction in any medium, for novel OP therapies. Future validation and exploration of additional therapeutic
provided the original work is
properly cited. targets and mechanisms are needed.
Publisher’s Note: AccScience
Publishing remains neutral with Keywords: Qiang-gu-jian-shen formula; Osteoporosis; Network pharmacology;
regard to jurisdictional claims in
published maps and institutional Mechanisms
affiliations.

Volume 9 Issue 2 (2025) 270 doi: 10.36922/EJMO025150103