Background: Pneumonia caused by novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is spreading worldwide. Traditional Chinese medicines (TCM) have played an important role in COVID-19 treatment in China. This study explores the specific mechanisms of action of Reduning injection (RDN) as a novel clinical treatment for COVID-19.
Material and Methods: We collected RDN chemical components and targets, COVID-19-related targets, and predictions of potential targets of RDN treatment for COVID-19 and performed network topology, Gene Ontology (GO) functional enrichment analysis and WikiPathways enrichment analysis of these potential targets.
Results: This study identified 14 chemical components and 200 targets of RDN; 3,558 COVID-19-related targets; 54 potential targets of RDN treatment for COVID-19. GO functional enrichment analysis identified 83 entries in biological process, including regulation of vasoconstriction、arachidonic acid secretion, and 17 entries in molecular function, including oxidoreductase activity, acting on the aldehyde or oxo group of donors. WikiPathways enrichment analysis identified 16 entries including the interleukin-12 signaling pathway.
Conclusion: In brief, RDN may be involved in the core anti-severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) action and also in the reduction of the resulting inflammatory response, oxidative stress, and lung tissue damage, and the regulation of apoptosis, providing evidence for the characteristics of TCM in COVID-19 treatment involving multiple components, targets, and pathways.