Research on Material Basis for the Nourishing Kidney Yin Effect of Dendrobium fimbriatum Hook.

Abstract

This study aims to analyze secondary metabolites of Dendrobium fimbriatum via UPLC-MS/MS; establish hyperthyroidism-induced kidney yin deficiency model with thyroid tablets to study its decoction's effects; use UPLC-MS/MS untargeted metabolomics to screen blood-entry components, biomarkers, and potential active substances; explore component-target-pathway mechanism via network pharmacology and molecular docking. One hundred thirty-eight secondary metabolites are identified. Decoction increased rat body weight/pain threshold, reduced temperature; alleviated kidney yin deficiency symptoms/pathology; regulated thyroid (T3/T4), gonad (T/E2), and nucleotide (cAMP/cGMP) functions; and changed OPLS-DA profile; 13 blood-entry components, 30 biomarkers, and 9 potential "nourishing kidney yin" substances are found-four high-binding components act on EGFR/AKT1/SRC via cancer pathogenesis, endocrine resistance, and relaxin pathways. Decoction improves model rats' metabolism; four active components (e.g., N-p-coumaroyltyramine) regulate EGFR/AKT1/SRC via key pathways, affecting biomarkers and glycerophospholipid/amino acid/linoleic acid metabolism to exert anti-inflammatory/antioxidant/antitumor/antiapoptotic effects, realizing "nourishing kidney yin"; this study supports mechanism analysis, quality evaluation, and new drug R&D of D. fimbriatum.