The action of Poria cocos polysaccharides against non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: A preliminary study

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a significant public health challenge owing to its current prevalence. Basic and clinical evidence indicates that pyroptosis is responsible for the development of NAFLD to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. Our previous findings suggested that Poria cocos pol...

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Main Authors: Rui Zhou, Qinting Chen, Jie Mo, Meizhen Liu, Ka Wu, Chao Guo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-12-01
Series:Food Hydrocolloids for Health
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667025925000408
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author Rui Zhou
Qinting Chen
Jie Mo
Meizhen Liu
Ka Wu
Chao Guo
author_facet Rui Zhou
Qinting Chen
Jie Mo
Meizhen Liu
Ka Wu
Chao Guo
author_sort Rui Zhou
collection DOAJ
description Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a significant public health challenge owing to its current prevalence. Basic and clinical evidence indicates that pyroptosis is responsible for the development of NAFLD to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. Our previous findings suggested that Poria cocos polysaccharides (PCP) exert promising anti-liver injury benefits. However, the anti-NAFLD action of PCP via the modulation of pyroptosis remains untested. In this study, a network pharmacology- and molecular docking-based approach was used to determine the anti-NAFLD activities and mechanisms of PCP prior to in vitro or in vivo. Based on these bioinformatics data, 31 intersecting genes in PCP (483 target genes), NAFLD (1445 target genes), and pyroptosis (905 target genes) were identified via network pharmacology analysis, and a total of 16 key genes in PCP against NAFLD through the modulation of pyroptosis were determined. Further enrichment analysis revealed the detailed anti-NAFLD functions and molecular mechanisms of PCP. Molecular docking simulations were used to identify the spatial binding features between PCP and the target proteins related to pyroptosis. This study determined the pyroptosis-related cluster genes that act with PCP against NAFLD, thereby offering preliminary evidence to support PCP’s potential in treating NAFLD. Additionally, we identified the possible underlying pyroptotic mechanisms for future experimental validations.
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publishDate 2025-12-01
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spelling doaj-art-a8a244d16e934a70802cbb8d1c79da1d2025-08-20T02:48:43ZengElsevierFood Hydrocolloids for Health2667-02592025-12-01810023410.1016/j.fhfh.2025.100234The action of Poria cocos polysaccharides against non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: A preliminary studyRui Zhou0Qinting Chen1Jie Mo2Meizhen Liu3Ka Wu4Chao Guo5Department of Vascular Surgery, Guigang City People's Hospital, The Eighth Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Guigang, Guangxi, PR ChinaDepartment of Pharmacy, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, The Second People's Hospital of Nanning City, Nanning, PR China; College of Pharmacy, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, PR ChinaDepartment of Pharmacy, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, The Second People's Hospital of Nanning City, Nanning, PR China; College of Pharmacy, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, PR ChinaDepartment of Clinical Pharmacy, Guigang City People's Hospital, The Eighth Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Guigang, Guangxi, PR ChinaDepartment of Pharmacy, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, The Second People's Hospital of Nanning City, Nanning, PR China; College of Pharmacy, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, PR China; Corresponding author at: The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Department of Pharmacy, The Second People's Hospital of Nanning City, No. 13, Dancun Road, Jiangnan District, Nanning City, 530031, PR China.Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Guigang City People's Hospital, The Eighth Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Guigang, Guangxi, PR China; Corresponding author at: Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Guigang City People's Hospital, The Eighth Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, No. 1 Zhongshan Middle Road, Gangbei District, Guigang City, Guangxi, PR China.Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a significant public health challenge owing to its current prevalence. Basic and clinical evidence indicates that pyroptosis is responsible for the development of NAFLD to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. Our previous findings suggested that Poria cocos polysaccharides (PCP) exert promising anti-liver injury benefits. However, the anti-NAFLD action of PCP via the modulation of pyroptosis remains untested. In this study, a network pharmacology- and molecular docking-based approach was used to determine the anti-NAFLD activities and mechanisms of PCP prior to in vitro or in vivo. Based on these bioinformatics data, 31 intersecting genes in PCP (483 target genes), NAFLD (1445 target genes), and pyroptosis (905 target genes) were identified via network pharmacology analysis, and a total of 16 key genes in PCP against NAFLD through the modulation of pyroptosis were determined. Further enrichment analysis revealed the detailed anti-NAFLD functions and molecular mechanisms of PCP. Molecular docking simulations were used to identify the spatial binding features between PCP and the target proteins related to pyroptosis. This study determined the pyroptosis-related cluster genes that act with PCP against NAFLD, thereby offering preliminary evidence to support PCP’s potential in treating NAFLD. Additionally, we identified the possible underlying pyroptotic mechanisms for future experimental validations.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667025925000408Non-alcoholic fatty liver diseasePoria cocos polysaccharidesPyroptosisAnti-NAFLD targetsAnti-NAFLD mechanisms
spellingShingle Rui Zhou
Qinting Chen
Jie Mo
Meizhen Liu
Ka Wu
Chao Guo
The action of Poria cocos polysaccharides against non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: A preliminary study
Food Hydrocolloids for Health
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
Poria cocos polysaccharides
Pyroptosis
Anti-NAFLD targets
Anti-NAFLD mechanisms
title The action of Poria cocos polysaccharides against non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: A preliminary study
title_full The action of Poria cocos polysaccharides against non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: A preliminary study
title_fullStr The action of Poria cocos polysaccharides against non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: A preliminary study
title_full_unstemmed The action of Poria cocos polysaccharides against non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: A preliminary study
title_short The action of Poria cocos polysaccharides against non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: A preliminary study
title_sort action of poria cocos polysaccharides against non alcoholic fatty liver disease a preliminary study
topic Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
Poria cocos polysaccharides
Pyroptosis
Anti-NAFLD targets
Anti-NAFLD mechanisms
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667025925000408
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