Interaction of blood-entry components, network pharmacology and transcriptomics to elucidate the mechanism of Wentong plaster in treating primary dysmenorrhea

IntroductionPrimary dysmenorrhea (PD) is characterized by pain during the menstrual cycle, affects women's health. Our group developed a traditional Chinese medicine plaster (Wentong plaster, WTT) for the treatment of PD. However, the underlying mechanisms have not yet been elucidated.MethodsIn...

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Main Authors: Zongtong Yang, Ziqi Jiao, Cheng Wang, Xiaojing Li, Mengyu Yuan, Zaiyun Sui, Wenhui Wang, Wenjing Hou
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-07-01
Series:Frontiers in Pharmacology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2025.1591558/full
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author Zongtong Yang
Ziqi Jiao
Cheng Wang
Xiaojing Li
Mengyu Yuan
Zaiyun Sui
Wenhui Wang
Wenjing Hou
author_facet Zongtong Yang
Ziqi Jiao
Cheng Wang
Xiaojing Li
Mengyu Yuan
Zaiyun Sui
Wenhui Wang
Wenjing Hou
author_sort Zongtong Yang
collection DOAJ
description IntroductionPrimary dysmenorrhea (PD) is characterized by pain during the menstrual cycle, affects women's health. Our group developed a traditional Chinese medicine plaster (Wentong plaster, WTT) for the treatment of PD. However, the underlying mechanisms have not yet been elucidated.MethodsIn this study, the blood-entry components of WTT were detected using UPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap-MS, and the therapeutic functions of WTT on PD were evaluated by the writhing response, pathological analysis, and the levels of estrogen, nitric oxide, progesterone, among other indicators. Network pharmacology and transcriptomics were used to elucidate the underlying mechanisms. Finally, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and western blotting were used to determine the levels of relevant indicators.ResultsOur findings indicate that 49 original blood-entry components were detected. Meanwhile, WTT upregulated the level of NO, and downregulated the levels of PGF2α, PGE2, estrogen, and progesterone, thereby increasing blood flow, alleviating inflammatory responses, and inhibiting the writhing response. Results from network pharmacology and transcriptomics analyses indicated that WTT could increase the expression of Lcn2 and decrease the expression of Cxcl6 and IL-17, thereby regulating the IL-17 signaling pathway, and alleviating inflammation to treat PD.ConclusionWTT mainly down-regulates the levels of Cxcl6 and IL-17 and up-regulates the expression of Lcn2, further regulates the IL-17 signaling pathway to alleviate inflammation, ultimately treating PD. This study provides a basis for further research on the mechanism of WTT, and offers a reference for its clinical application.
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spelling doaj-art-0adeab39ab2f44daad0901841c24af7f2025-08-20T03:28:32ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Pharmacology1663-98122025-07-011610.3389/fphar.2025.15915581591558Interaction of blood-entry components, network pharmacology and transcriptomics to elucidate the mechanism of Wentong plaster in treating primary dysmenorrheaZongtong Yang0Ziqi Jiao1Cheng Wang2Xiaojing Li3Mengyu Yuan4Zaiyun Sui5Wenhui Wang6Wenjing Hou7Institute of Pharmacology of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shandong Academy of Chinese Medicine, Jinan, ChinaInstitute of Pharmacology of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shandong Academy of Chinese Medicine, Jinan, ChinaInstitute of Pharmacology of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shandong Academy of Chinese Medicine, Jinan, ChinaInstitute of Pharmacology of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shandong Academy of Chinese Medicine, Jinan, ChinaCollege of Pharmacy, Jining Medical University, Jining, ChinaInstitute of Pharmacology of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shandong Academy of Chinese Medicine, Jinan, ChinaCollege of Veterinary Medicine, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, ChinaInstitute of Pharmacology of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shandong Academy of Chinese Medicine, Jinan, ChinaIntroductionPrimary dysmenorrhea (PD) is characterized by pain during the menstrual cycle, affects women's health. Our group developed a traditional Chinese medicine plaster (Wentong plaster, WTT) for the treatment of PD. However, the underlying mechanisms have not yet been elucidated.MethodsIn this study, the blood-entry components of WTT were detected using UPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap-MS, and the therapeutic functions of WTT on PD were evaluated by the writhing response, pathological analysis, and the levels of estrogen, nitric oxide, progesterone, among other indicators. Network pharmacology and transcriptomics were used to elucidate the underlying mechanisms. Finally, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and western blotting were used to determine the levels of relevant indicators.ResultsOur findings indicate that 49 original blood-entry components were detected. Meanwhile, WTT upregulated the level of NO, and downregulated the levels of PGF2α, PGE2, estrogen, and progesterone, thereby increasing blood flow, alleviating inflammatory responses, and inhibiting the writhing response. Results from network pharmacology and transcriptomics analyses indicated that WTT could increase the expression of Lcn2 and decrease the expression of Cxcl6 and IL-17, thereby regulating the IL-17 signaling pathway, and alleviating inflammation to treat PD.ConclusionWTT mainly down-regulates the levels of Cxcl6 and IL-17 and up-regulates the expression of Lcn2, further regulates the IL-17 signaling pathway to alleviate inflammation, ultimately treating PD. This study provides a basis for further research on the mechanism of WTT, and offers a reference for its clinical application.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2025.1591558/fullWentong plasterprimary dysmenorrheamechanismnetwork pharmacologytranscriptomics
spellingShingle Zongtong Yang
Ziqi Jiao
Cheng Wang
Xiaojing Li
Mengyu Yuan
Zaiyun Sui
Wenhui Wang
Wenjing Hou
Interaction of blood-entry components, network pharmacology and transcriptomics to elucidate the mechanism of Wentong plaster in treating primary dysmenorrhea
Frontiers in Pharmacology
Wentong plaster
primary dysmenorrhea
mechanism
network pharmacology
transcriptomics
title Interaction of blood-entry components, network pharmacology and transcriptomics to elucidate the mechanism of Wentong plaster in treating primary dysmenorrhea
title_full Interaction of blood-entry components, network pharmacology and transcriptomics to elucidate the mechanism of Wentong plaster in treating primary dysmenorrhea
title_fullStr Interaction of blood-entry components, network pharmacology and transcriptomics to elucidate the mechanism of Wentong plaster in treating primary dysmenorrhea
title_full_unstemmed Interaction of blood-entry components, network pharmacology and transcriptomics to elucidate the mechanism of Wentong plaster in treating primary dysmenorrhea
title_short Interaction of blood-entry components, network pharmacology and transcriptomics to elucidate the mechanism of Wentong plaster in treating primary dysmenorrhea
title_sort interaction of blood entry components network pharmacology and transcriptomics to elucidate the mechanism of wentong plaster in treating primary dysmenorrhea
topic Wentong plaster
primary dysmenorrhea
mechanism
network pharmacology
transcriptomics
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2025.1591558/full
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