# Network Pharmacology-Based Analysis Reveals the Mechanisms of the Tibetan Medicinal Plant Meconopsis quintuplinervia Against COPD and NAFLD: Insights from LC-MS/MS Profiling and Antioxidant/Anti-Inflammatory Activities **Authors:** Fangfang Chen, Mingjing Chen, Yiyu Chen, Chunyan Chen, Fei Li, Shudi Zhang, Yu-Pei Chen PMC · DOI: 10.3390/cimb48020176 · 2026-02-03 ## TL;DR This study explores how a Tibetan medicinal plant helps treat lung and liver diseases by analyzing its chemical makeup and biological effects. ## Contribution The study identifies specific flavonoids in Meconopsis quintuplinervia and their mechanisms against COPD and NAFLD using network pharmacology. ## Key findings - MQ extract showed strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects in cellular assays. - LC-MS/MS identified taxifolin as the main compound in the extract. - Flavonoids in the extract target pathways like NF-κB and SREBP-1 to reduce inflammation and lipid accumulation. ## Abstract Meconopsis quintuplinervia is traditionally used in Tibetan medicine for diseases of the lung and liver. This study investigated the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of its extract (MQ extract), analyzed its chemical composition, and explored the potential therapeutic mechanisms against chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) using network pharmacology. MQ extract demonstrated effective scavenging of DPPH and ABTS radicals, with activity comparable to ascorbic acid and Trolox. In cellular assays, the extract dose-dependently reduced ROS levels in H2O2-induced B16-F10 and RAW264.7 cells and significantly inhibited NO production in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages. Quantitative analysis showed total phenolic content of 90.54 ± 0.91 mg/g and total flavonoid content of 44.48 ± 0.43 mg/g. LC-MS/MS analysis identified taxifolin as the predominant constituent at approximately 2.39%. Network pharmacology and molecular docking studies revealed that flavonoids including catechin, isorhamnetin, kaempferol, luteolin, naringenin, nobiletin, quercetin, and taxifolin interacted with therapeutic targets for COPD and NAFLD. These compounds likely exerted effects by inhibiting NF-κB signaling, downregulating pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β), and enhancing antioxidant enzyme activities (SOD), while also reducing hepatic lipid accumulation through SREBP-1 suppression. Our findings elucidated why Tibetan medicine traditionally uses M. quintuplinervia to treat pulmonary and hepatic disorders. ## Linked entities - **Proteins:** NFKB1 (nuclear factor kappa B subunit 1), TNF (tumor necrosis factor), IL6 (interleukin 6), IL1B (interleukin 1 beta), SOD1 (superoxide dismutase 1), SREBF1 (sterol regulatory element binding transcription factor 1) - **Chemicals:** ABTS (PubChem CID 35688), ascorbic acid (PubChem CID 9888239), Trolox (PubChem CID 40634), NO (PubChem CID 24822), taxifolin (PubChem CID 471), catechin (PubChem CID 1203), isorhamnetin (PubChem CID 5281654), kaempferol (PubChem CID 5280863), luteolin (PubChem CID 5280445), naringenin (PubChem CID 932), nobiletin (PubChem CID 72344), quercetin (PubChem CID 5280343) - **Diseases:** chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (MONDO:0005002), non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (MONDO:0013209) ## Full-text entities - **Genes:** APP (amyloid beta precursor protein) [NCBI Gene 351] {aka AAA, ABETA, ABPP, AD1, APPI, CTFgamma}, Il1b (interleukin 1 beta) [NCBI Gene 16176] {aka IL-1beta, Il-1b}, Pparg (peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma) [NCBI Gene 19016] {aka Nr1c3, PPAR-gamma, PPAR-gamma2, PPARgamma, PPARgamma2}, Bax (BCL2-associated X protein) [NCBI Gene 12028], Psen1 (presenilin 1) [NCBI Gene 19164] {aka Ad3h, PS-1, PS1, S182}, Casp3 (caspase 3) [NCBI Gene 12367] {aka A830040C14Rik, AC-3, CASP-3, CC3, CPP-32, CPP32}, AKT1 (AKT serine/threonine kinase 1) [NCBI Gene 207] {aka AKT, PKB, PKB-ALPHA, PRKBA, RAC, RAC-ALPHA}, Nfkb1 (nuclear factor of kappa light polypeptide gene enhancer in B cells 1, p105) [NCBI Gene 18033] {aka NF-KB1, NF-kappaB, NF-kappaB1, p105, p50, p50/p105}, Nfe2l2 (nuclear factor, erythroid derived 2, like 2) [NCBI Gene 18024] {aka Nrf2}, Mapk14 (mitogen-activated protein kinase 14) [NCBI Gene 26416] {aka CSBP2, Crk1, Csbp1, Mxi2, PRKM14, PRKM15}, ESR2 (estrogen receptor 2) [NCBI Gene 2100] {aka ER-BETA, ESR-BETA, ESRB, ESTRB, Erb, NR3A2}, Acc (anterior capsular cataract) [NCBI Gene 104371], Scd1 (stearoyl-Coenzyme A desaturase 1) [NCBI Gene 20249] {aka Scd, Scd-1, ab}, Hmox1 (heme oxygenase 1) [NCBI Gene 15368] {aka D8Wsu38e, HO-1, HO1, Hemox, Hmox, Hsp32}, Mtor (mechanistic target of rapamycin kinase) [NCBI Gene 56717] {aka 2610315D21Rik, FRAP, FRAP2, Frap1, RAFT1, RAPT1}, Trpv1 (transient receptor potential cation channel, subfamily V, member 1) [NCBI Gene 193034] {aka OTRPC1, TRPV1alpha, TRPV1beta, VR-1, Vr1}, Tlr4 (toll-like receptor 4) [NCBI Gene 21898] {aka Lps, Ly87, Ran/M1, Rasl2-8}, Esrra (estrogen related receptor, alpha) [NCBI Gene 26379] {aka ERRalpha, Err1, Estrra, Nr3b1}, COX2 (cytochrome c oxidase subunit II) [NCBI Gene 17709], Fos (Fos proto-oncogene, AP-1 transcription factor subunit) [NCBI Gene 14281] {aka D12Rfj1, c-fos, cFos}, Ppargc1a (peroxisome proliferative activated receptor, gamma, coactivator 1 alpha) [NCBI Gene 19017] {aka A830037N07Rik, Gm11133, PGC-1, PPARGC-1-alpha, Pgc-1alpha, Pgc1}, NFKB1 (nuclear factor kappa B subunit 1) [NCBI Gene 4790] {aka CVID12, EBP-1, KBF1, NF-kB, NF-kB1, NF-kappa-B1}, Sts (steroid sulfatase) [NCBI Gene 20905] {aka ArsC}, Apoa1 (apolipoprotein A-I) [NCBI Gene 11806] {aka Alp-1, Apoa-1, Brp-14, Ltw-1, Lvtw-1, Sep-1}, Dock2 (dedicator of cyto-kinesis 2) [NCBI Gene 94176] {aka CED-5, Hch, MBC}, Il6 (interleukin 6) [NCBI Gene 16193] {aka Il-6}, Gsk3b (glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta) [NCBI Gene 56637] {aka 7330414F15Rik, 8430431H08Rik, GSK-3, GSK-3beta, GSK3}, Syk (spleen tyrosine kinase) [NCBI Gene 20963] {aka Sykb}, Sirt1 (sirtuin 1) [NCBI Gene 93759] {aka SIR2L1, Sir2, Sir2a, Sir2alpha}, Map1lc3a (microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 alpha) [NCBI Gene 66734] {aka 1010001H21Rik, 4922501H04Rik, LC3, LC3a}, Myd88 (myeloid differentiation primary response gene 88) [NCBI Gene 17874], Mmp9 (matrix metallopeptidase 9) [NCBI Gene 17395] {aka B/MMP9, Clg4b, Gel B, MMP-9, pro-MMP-9}, Egfr (epidermal growth factor receptor) [NCBI Gene 13649] {aka 9030024J15Rik, Erbb, Errb1, Errp, Wa5, wa-2}, Nfatc1 (nuclear factor of activated T cells, cytoplasmic, calcineurin dependent 1) [NCBI Gene 18018] {aka 2210017P03Rik, NF-ATc, NFAT2, NFATc, Nfatcb}, Jun (Jun proto-oncogene, AP-1 transcription factor subunit) [NCBI Gene 16476] {aka AP-1, Junc, c-jun}, Nup62 (nucleoporin 62) [NCBI Gene 18226] {aka D7Ertd649e, Nupc1, p62}, SLC17A5 (solute carrier family 17 member 5) [NCBI Gene 26503] {aka AST, ISSD, NSD, SD, SIALIN, SIASD}, Hsp86-ps2 (heat shock protein 86, pseudogene 2) [NCBI Gene 111042] {aka 86kDa, Hsp86-3, Hsp90}, Tgfb1 (transforming growth factor, beta 1) [NCBI Gene 21803] {aka TGF-beta1, TGFbeta1, Tgfb, Tgfb-1}, Tnf (tumor necrosis factor) [NCBI Gene 21926] {aka DIF, TNF-a, TNF-alpha, TNFSF2, TNFalpha, Tnfa}, Hsd17b1 (hydroxysteroid (17-beta) dehydrogenase 1) [NCBI Gene 15485] {aka 17HSDB1, 17beta-HSD, E2DH, Hsd17ba}, SOD1 (superoxide dismutase 1) [NCBI Gene 6647] {aka ALS, ALS1, HEL-S-44, IPOA, SOD, STAHP}, Bcl2 (B cell leukemia/lymphoma 2) [NCBI Gene 12043] {aka Bcl-2, C430015F12Rik, D630044D05Rik, D830018M01Rik}, Tnfsf11 (tumor necrosis factor (ligand) superfamily, member 11) [NCBI Gene 21943] {aka Ly109l, ODF, OPGL, RANKL, Trance}, Nlrp3 (NLR family, pyrin domain containing 3) [NCBI Gene 216799] {aka AGTAVPRL, AII/AVP, Cias1, FCAS, FCU, MWS}, Nos2 (nitric oxide synthase 2, inducible) [NCBI Gene 18126] {aka MAC-NOS, NOS-II, Nos-2, Nos2a, i-NOS, iNOS}, CAT (catalase) [NCBI Gene 847], Drd2 (dopamine receptor D2) [NCBI Gene 13489] {aka D2R, Drd-2}, Pla2g4a (phospholipase A2, group IVA (cytosolic, calcium-dependent)) [NCBI Gene 18783] {aka Pla2g4, cPLA2, cPLA2-alpha, cPLA2alpha}, Mapk1 (mitogen-activated protein kinase 1) [NCBI Gene 26413] {aka 9030612K14Rik, ERK, Erk2, MAPK2, PRKM2, Prkm1}, Foxo1 (forkhead box O1) [NCBI Gene 56458] {aka Afxh, FKHR, Fkhr1, Foxo1a}, Sirt6 (sirtuin 6) [NCBI Gene 50721] {aka 2810449N18Rik, Sir2l6, mSIRT6}, Fgf21 (fibroblast growth factor 21) [NCBI Gene 56636] {aka Fgf8c}, HSD17B1 (hydroxysteroid 17-beta dehydrogenase 1) [NCBI Gene 3292] {aka 17-beta-HSD, 20-alpha-HSD, E2DH, EDH17B2, EDHB17, HSD17}, Ctsb (cathepsin B) [NCBI Gene 13030] {aka APPM, CB}, Srebf1 (sterol regulatory element binding transcription factor 1) [NCBI Gene 20787] {aka ADD1, SREBP1, bHLHd1}, PIK3CB (phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate 3-kinase catalytic subunit beta) [NCBI Gene 5291] {aka P110BETA, PI3K, PI3KBETA, PIK3C1}, Bace1 (beta-site APP cleaving enzyme 1) [NCBI Gene 23821] {aka ASP2, Bace}, Akt1 (Akt serine/threonine kinase 1) [NCBI Gene 11651] {aka Akt, LTR-akt, PKB, PKB/Akt, PKBalpha, Rac}, Qpct (glutaminyl-peptide cyclotransferase (glutaminyl cyclase)) [NCBI Gene 70536] {aka 5730422A13Rik} - **Diseases:** cervical cancer (MESH:D002583), respiratory diseases (MESH:D012140), pain (MESH:D010146), hyperoxia (MESH:D018496), influenza (MESH:D007251), melanoma (MESH:D008545), fibrosis (MESH:D005355), Inflammatory (MESH:D007249), M. quintuplinervia liver-disease (MESH:D008107), headaches (MESH:D006261), hepatocyte injury (MESH:D014947), lung injury (MESH:D055370), pancreatitis (MESH:D010195), asthma (MESH:D001249), emphysema (MESH:D004646), liver fibrosis (MESH:D008103), acute lung injury (MESH:D055371), diseases of the lung and liver (MESH:D008171), NAFLD (MESH:D065626), Chemical (MESH:D019966), AD (MESH:D000544), carcinogenesis (MESH:D063646), pulmonary and hepatic inflammation (MESH:D011014), jaundice (MESH:D007565), COPD (MESH:D029424), heterotopic ossification (MESH:D009999), hepatic steatosis (MESH:D005234), NSCLC (MESH:D002289), ARDS (MESH:D012128), atherosclerosis (MESH:D050197), endometrial cancer (MESH:D016889), PCOS (MESH:D011085), metastasis (MESH:D009362), insulin resistance (MESH:D007333), cocaine use disorder (MESH:D019970), tachypnea (MESH:D059246), dizziness (MESH:D004244), Cytotoxicity (MESH:D064420), BPD (MESH:D001997), plateau (MESH:D000092463), cough (MESH:D003371), ovarian cancer (MESH:D010051), liver injury (MESH:D017093), cardiac hypertrophic (MESH:D006331), pulmonary fibrosis (MESH:D011658), hepatitis (MESH:D056486), breast cancer (MESH:D001943), metabolic and hormone-associated disorders (MESH:C566454), bacterial infection (MESH:D001424), alcoholic liver injury (MESH:D008108), irritable bowel syndrome (MESH:D043183), ulcerative colitis (MESH:D003093), esophageal cancer (MESH:D004938), pulmonary or bronchial disorders (MESH:D001982), lipid (MESH:D011017), hepatocellular carcinoma (MESH:D006528) - **Chemicals:** Taxifolin (MESH:C003377), gallic acid (MESH:D005707), flavone (MESH:C043562), Folin-Ciocalteau reagent (MESH:C029556), ammonium formate (MESH:C030544), potassium acetate (MESH:D019347), Trolox (MESH:C010643), methanol (MESH:D000432), methionine (MESH:D008715), flavanone (MESH:C028610), NaNO2 (MESH:D012977), rutin (MESH:D012431), streptomycin (MESH:D013307), allocryptopine (MESH:C109505), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (MESH:C004931), acetonitrile (MESH:C032159), L-isoleucine (MESH:D007532), Carboxylic acids (MESH:D002264), Quercetin (MESH:D011794), choline (MESH:D002794), estradiol (MESH:D004958), Nobiletin (MESH:C008661), PGE2 (MESH:D015232), apigenin (MESH:D047310), petroleum ether (MESH:C004544), Catechin (MESH:D002392), 2',7'-dichlorofluorescein diacetate (MESH:C029569), THPB (MESH:C014845), Kaempferol (MESH:C006552), free radical (MESH:D005609), Estrone (MESH:D004970), L-tyrosine (MESH:D014443), Benzene (MESH:D001554), water (MESH:D014867), NO (MESH:D009569), ethanol (MESH:D000431), flavonol (MESH:C041477), L-glutamic acid (MESH:D018698), Glutaric acid (MESH:C035736), aglycone (MESH:C458179), Ascorbic acid (MESH:D001205), alkaloids (MESH:D000470), bleomycin (MESH:D001761), pyroglutamic acid (MESH:D011761), threonic acid (MESH:C011369), penicillin (MESH:D010406), NO (MESH:D009614), bile acid (MESH:D001647), protopine (MESH:C009093), ethyl acetate (MESH:C007650), H2O2 (MESH:D006861), Fe3+ (-), fatty acid (MESH:D005227), L-phenylalanine (MESH:D010649), Phenols (MESH:D010636), MTT (MESH:C070243), amino acids (MESH:D000596), sodium arsenite (MESH:C017947), Isocorypalmine (MESH:C000589018), Naringenin (MESH:C005273) - **Species:** Mus musculus (house mouse, species) [taxon 10090], Meconopsis (genus) [taxon 72195], Homo sapiens (human, species) [taxon 9606], Rodentia (rodent, order) [taxon 9989], Dengue virus (no rank) [taxon 12637], Meconopsis quintuplinervia (species) [taxon 248847] - **Cell lines:** KLE — Homo sapiens (Human), Type II endometrial adenocarcinoma, Cancer cell line (CVCL_1329), B16-F10 — Mus musculus (Mouse), Mouse melanoma, Cancer cell line (CVCL_0159), RAW 264.7 — Mus musculus (Mouse), Mouse leukemia, Cancer cell line (CVCL_0493), beta- — Gorilla gorilla gorilla (Western lowland gorilla), Transformed cell line (CVCL_R799), Ishikawa — Homo sapiens (Human), Type I endometrial adenocarcinoma, Cancer cell line (CVCL_2529), MCF-7 — Homo sapiens (Human), Invasive breast carcinoma of no special type, Cancer cell line (CVCL_0031), smooth muscle — Homo sapiens (Human), Finite cell line (CVCL_F640), H9N2 — Homo sapiens (Human), Embryonic stem cell (CVCL_C812) ## Figures 9 figures with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12939722/full.md --- Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12939722