Objective To investigate the effect and mechanism of Ampelopsis grossedentata extract in treating post-infection cough (PIC) through network pharmacology combined with in vivo experiments. Methods Active components from A. grossedentata were screened through HERB database, PIC related targets were obtained from GeneCards platform, intersecting targets were obtained, “drug-active ingredient-target” network and protein-protein interaction (PPI) network were constructed. Gene ontology (GO) function and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis were performed, and molecular docking validation was performed between core components and core targets. PIC guinea pig model was constructed, control group, model group, A. grossedentata extract low-, medium-, high-dose (64, 128, 256 mg/kg) groups and Suhuang Zhike Capsule (苏黄止咳胶囊, 314 mg/kg) group were set up. After administration, cough sensitivity, inflammatory cell numbers and levels of interleukin-4 (IL-4), substance P (SP), interferon-γ (IFN-γ), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were detected. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was used to observe pathological changes in tracheal, bronchial and lung tissues. Western blotting was used to detect the expressions of core target proteins in lung tissue. Results The core active ingredients of A. grossedentata screened by network pharmacology included physcion, emodin, quercetin, etc. The core targets included B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), estrogen receptor 1 (ESR1), sarcoma proto oncogene kinase (SRC), etc. The enrichment involved EGFR, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)-protein kinase B (Akt) and other signaling pathways. Molecular docking showed that the binding energy between core components and core targets was low, with good affinity. The animal experiment results showed that compared with model group, A. grossedentata extract could significantly prolong the cough latency and reduce the number of coughs in guinea pigs (P < 0.05, 0.01), reduce the number of inflammatory cells and levels of SP, IL-4, TNF-α, INF-γ in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (P < 0.05, 0.01), improve the pathological damage of trachea, bronchus and lung tissue, up-regulate the expression of Bcl-2 protein in lung tissue (P < 0.01), down-regulate the expressions of EGFR and p-STAT3 protein (P < 0.01). Conclusion A. grossedentata extract has significant therapeutic effects on PIC, and its mechanism may be through the action of core components such as physcion, emodin and quercetin on targets such as Bcl-2, EGFR, STAT3, regulating related signaling pathways, reducing airway mucosal damage and inflammatory reactions, and thus exerting therapeutic effects.

post-infection cough  /  Ampelopsis grossedentata (Hand.-Mazz.) W. T. Wang  /  dihydromyricetin  /  airway mucosal damage  /  inflammatory response  /  B-cell lymphoma-2  /  epidermal growth factor receptor  /  physcion  /  emodin  /  quercetin