Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42471549›Full record

ArticleBiological procedures online2026

Therapeutic Mechanisms of Ruangan Huayu Formula in Liver Cirrhosis: Network Pharmacology, Molecular Docking and Experimental Validation.

Haina Xie, Yujie Wang, Mengqian Zhu, Luming Hou, Xin Sun, Xiaodi Gao, Sicheng Gao, Junfeng Zhu

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Biological procedures online, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Haina Xie *Department of Liver, Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No.110 Ganhe Road, Hongkou District, Shanghai, 201203, China.
Yujie Wang *Department of Liver, Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No.110 Ganhe Road, Hongkou District, Shanghai, 201203, China.
Mengqian ZhuDepartment of Liver, Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No.110 Ganhe Road, Hongkou District, Shanghai, 201203, China.
Luming HouDepartment of Liver, Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No.110 Ganhe Road, Hongkou District, Shanghai, 201203, China.
Xin SunDepartment of Liver, Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No.110 Ganhe Road, Hongkou District, Shanghai, 201203, China.
Xiaodi GaoDepartment of Liver, Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No.110 Ganhe Road, Hongkou District, Shanghai, 201203, China.
Sicheng GaoDepartment of Liver, Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No.110 Ganhe Road, Hongkou District, Shanghai, 201203, China. gsc8112006@163.com.
Junfeng ZhuDepartment of Liver, Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No.110 Ganhe Road, Hongkou District, Shanghai, 201203, China. yyyygbk@163.com.

Funding

Specialized Department Construction for Traditional Chinese Medicine Strengths of Yueyang Hospital YW(2025-2026)-01-04Zhu Junfeng Traditional Chinese Medicine Inheritance and Innovation Studio of Shanghai 2025CXGZS-16
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundLiver cirrhosis remains a challenging global health issue for which current treatment options are largely limited to managing acute liver failure, with no definitive curative therapies available. The Ruangan Huayu Formula (RGHY) has shown promising clinical effects in recent years; however, its comprehensive chemical profile and the specific mechanisms underlying its anti-cirrhotic activity remain to be fully elucidated.

methodsUltra-high-performance liquid chromatography-Orbitrap-explorative mass spectrometry (UHPLC-OE-MS) was performed to characterize the chemical profile of the RGHY. Network pharmacology and molecular docking were leveraged to identify potential targets and pathways. Antifibrotic efficacy and underlying mechanisms of RGHY were evaluated using a thioacetamide (TAA)-induced liver fibrosis model in male Sprague-Dawley rats, along with transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β)-stimulated human hepatic stellate cells (LX-2) in vitro.

resultsUHPLC-OE-MS study showed various chemical components of RGHY. Network pharmacology analysis revealed 57 intersecting targets, with the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT) pathway standing out. Molecular docking studies returned strong binding scores for AKT1, SRC, PIK3CA, and STAT3 as core targets key to RGHY compounds. RGHY was shown to significantly alleviate TAA-induced liver injury and fibrosis by down-regulating the PI3K/AKT pathway. In vitro, RGHY-containing serum and its key bioactive compounds (7,3',4'-trihydroxyflavone and sulfuretin) disrupted TGF-β-induced LX-2 cell activation, migration, and fibrogenesis. The PI3K/AKT signaling pathway was confirmed to involve in mediating the antifibrotic effects of RGHY.

conclusionRGHY and its bioactive compounds 7,3',4'-trihydroxyflavone and effectively attenuated liver fibrosis and hepatic stellate cell activation through multicomponent, multitarget actions, primarily by modulating the PI3K/AKT pathway. These findings provide mechanistic evidence supporting its traditional use and its potential as a therapeutic candidate for liver cirrhosis.

Indexed as

Hepatic stellate cellsLiver cirrhosisNetwork pharmacologyPI3K/AKT signaling pathwayRGHY

Identifiers

PMID42471549
PMCPMC13670696

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.