Key Active Components and Potential Mechanisms of Antioxidant Effects of Actinidia arguta

doi:10.19803/j.1672-8629.20250690

Abstract

Abstract: Objective To investigate the key bioactive components, target proteins, and signaling pathways involved in the antioxidant effects of Actinidia arguta based on network pharmacology and to verify the antioxidant activity of these components via in vitro experiments. Methods A “drug-ingredient-target map” was constructed by searching the HERB and TCMSP databases and screening the active ingredients and corresponding targets of Actinidia arguta. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis of intersection targets, GO functional enrichment analysis, and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis were conducted after antioxidant-related targets were obtained from disease databases and intersected with component targets. The in vitro antioxidant activity of the key active ingredients was validated via DPPH and ABTS⁺ radical scavenging experiments. Results By searching the HERB and TCMSP databases, eight active components and 283 corresponding targets were identified. Antioxidant-related targets were obtained from disease databases, and 118 common targets were identified by taking the intersection of these datasets. Protein-protein interaction network analysis revealed such core targets as STAT3, SRC, PARP1, MTOR, and MMP9. GO functional enrichment analysis suggested that these targets were mostly involved in biological processes, cellular components, and molecular functions. KEGG pathway enrichment analysis found that the antioxidation mechanisms might be closely related to such pathways as cancer, chemical carcinogenesis-reactive oxygen species, cellular signal transduction, and lipid and atherosclerosis pathways. Conclusion The in vitro antioxidation experiments have confirmed that all the predicted components are capable of antioxidation, with quercetin, caffeic acid, and 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid as the strongest ones. Such key components as 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid, actinidine, and caffeic acid have a strong ability to scavenge free radicals. They may exert antioxidant effects through multi-target and multi-pathway mechanisms, which is expected to shed light on the antioxidation mechanism of Actinidia arguta.

Key words: Actinidia arguta, Antioxidant, Active Components, Mechanism of Action, Targets, Network Pharmacology, in vitro Experiments

CLC Number:

R977
R282

WANG Ruojin, SUN Yang, SUN Qi, GONG Liying, LIU Zhao, ZHAO Nan, YUE Jiayin, LIANG Dejun, MENG Fanhao. Key Active Components and Potential Mechanisms of Antioxidant Effects of Actinidia arguta[J]. Chinese Journal of Pharmacovigilance, 2026, 23(3): 250-258.

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https://zgywjj.magtechjournal.com/EN/Y2026/V23/I3/250

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