Exploring therapeutic potential of polyherbal churna via network pharmacology and in vitro digestive assay

Abstract

Worldwide, digestive diseases are now a prevalent issue that cause a considerable amount of illness. The available treatments for digestive issues frequently have drawbacks and adverse consequences. The major limitations are rebound effect, addressing the root cause, dependence, addiction, etc. These issues motivate research into traditional herbal treatments as a possible medicinal solution is gaining momentum. Herbs such as betel leaf, liquorice, saunth, cinnamon, fennel, cardamom, marica, pipali, and caraway, have long been used to treat digestive problems. Their combined effects on the modulation of digestive enzymes, however, have not been well investigated. Considering fewer Ayurvedic digestive formulations and formulation available in market a new poly herbal churna formulation was prepared for this investigation. Using lipase, amylase, and protease assays, the formulation was evaluated in vitro. The formulation's impact on digestive enzyme activity was compared to standard. The prepared formulation exhibited significant amylase and lipase inhibitory activities, comparable to standard inhibitors. The formulation's digestive enzyme modulation properties were attributed to the synergistic effects of its constituent herbs. A network pharmacology study of the churna's phytoconstituents targeting digestive function and related diseases identified top 10 genes (STAT3, HIF1A, IL6, JUN, TNF, MTOR, SRC, MMP9, ESR1, and NFKB1). KEGG pathway analysis revealed involvement of these genes in pathways related to insulin resistance, inflammatory bowel disease, cancer, pancreatic cancer, and hepatitis. The formulation may be used therapeutically to treat digestive problems because of its capacity to alter the activity of digestive enzymes. To better understand the formulation's mechanisms of action and investigate its potential therapeutic uses, more in vivo studies are necessary.