Ethnopharmacological relevance: A variety of traditional Chinese medicine prescriptions improving acne and eczema have been tested by time. Yuqingyan (YQY) is a novel multi-herbal complex derived from modified traditional Chinese prescriptions, incorporating a multi-herbal extract from 7 medicinal herbs, including Sophora angustifolia Siebold & Zucc., Phellodendron chinense C.K.Schneid., Gentiana scabra Bunge, Cnidium monnieri Cusson, Chrysanthellum indicum DC., Glycyrrhiza inflata Batalin, and Cinnamomum camphora (L.) J. Presl, has demonstrated considerable potential for acne treatment.
Aim of the study: This study seeks to illustrate the pharmacological mechanism of YQY in acne management through network pharmacology and experimentally validate these mechanisms.
Methods: Network pharmacology analysis was utilized to unravel active ingredients, targets and pathways. And in vitro anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory and anti-lipogenesis experiments were conducted to demonstrated the hypothetical activity and potential active targets.
Results: Network pharmacology analysis identified 88 acne-related targets, and predicted TNF, IL1B, IL6 and AKT1 as core active targets. GO and KEGG enrichment suggested modulation of bacterial infection, inflammation response and lipid metabolism. Experimental validation confirmed that YQY inhibited Cutibacterium acnes growth (MIC = 2.4 μg/mL), suppressed the LPS-induced cytokine release in macrophages, including TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6, and downregulated sebocyte lipogenesis by inhibiting AKT phosphorylation.
Conclusion: YQY represents a promising innovation derived from TCM, exerting anti-acne effects via regulation of bacterial infection, inflammation, and lipogenesis. This study bridges traditional knowledge and modern pharmacology, supporting YQY's potential as an acne treatment.
Keywords: Acne vulgaris; Anti-inflammation; Antimicrobial; Lipogenesis; Traditional Chinese medicine.
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