OBJECTIVE To screen the effective components and potent substances of Bletilla striata and to preliminarily predict its mechanism of action. METHODS Oxford cup and microdilution methods were used to evaluate the inhibition of Propionibacterium acnes, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Staphylococcus aureus in different extracted parts of Bletilla striata. Subsequently, a mouse model of acne vulgaris was established to assess the effects of the different extracted components of Bletilla striata on auricular tissue lesions, histopathology, and inflammatory factors. Furthermore, the chemical compositions of the three extracts were analyzed using ultra high performance liquid chromatography-tandem quadrupole mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS). Network pharmacology was utilized to predict the relevant targets, pharmacodynamic components, and related pathways of Bletilla Striata in the treatment of acne. Additionally, molecular docking was performed on the key pharmacodynamic components and targets to further validate these pharmacodynamic substances. RESULTS The ethyl acetate extract of Bletilla striata could effectively inhibit three kinds of acne-causing bacteria, and its MIC was 2.34, 2.34, 4.59 mg·mL-1, respectively, the ethyl acetate extract of Bletilla striata significantly improved the auricular tissue lesions in mice, while the remaining two extracts exhibited no anti-acne effect. A total of 51 components of Bletilla striata were identified, including 48 components in the ethyl acetate extract, 13 components in the butanol extract, and 15 components in the water extract, stilbenes were most enriched in the ethyl acetate extract. The results of network pharmacology and molecular docking validation indicated that constituents such as batatasin Ⅲ, 3-(4-hydroxybenzyl)-4-methoxy-2, 7-dihydroxy-9, 10-dihydrophenanthreneand, 3-O-methylbatatasin Ⅲ may serve as key active constituents of Bletilla striata in the treatment of acne. Additionally, MAPK1 and TNF among others may represent potential targets of Bletilla striata in anti-acne therapy. CONCLUSION This study shows that the ethyl acetate extracted parts of Bletilla striata have good anti-acne effects, in which the Stilbenes represented by batatasin Ⅲ may be the main medicinal components, which may provide important references for the in-depth study of the mechanism of Bletilla striata in treating acne.
| 科 Family | 属数 Number of genus | 种数 Number of species | 占总种数比例 Percentage of total species (%) | 属 Genus | 种数 Number of species | 占总种数比例 Percentage of total species (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 鹅膏菌科Amanitaceae | 2 | 11 | 5.26 | 鹅膏菌属 Amanita | 10 | 4.78 |
| 小菇科 Mycenaceae | 2 | 12 | 5.74 | 丝盖伞属 Inocybe | 5 | 2.39 |
| 多孔菌科 Polyporaceae | 8 | 14 | 6.70 | 蜡蘑属 Laccaria | 5 | 2.39 |
| 红菇科 Russulaceae | 3 | 23 | 11.00 | 小皮伞属 Marasmius | 6 | 2.87 |
| 小菇属 Mycena | 11 | 5.26 | ||||
| 光柄菇属 Pluteus | 5 | 2.39 | ||||
| 红菇属 Russula | 17 | 8.13 | ||||
| 栓菌属 Trametes | 5 | 2.39 |