Metabolomics Combined With Network Pharmacology to Reveal the Metabolic Differences and Underlying Anti-Inflammatory and Antipyretic Mechanisms of Berchemia lineata.

This study explored the metabolic differences between roots and stems of Berchemia lineata, as well as the material basis and mechanism of its antipyretic and anti-inflammatory properties. Untargeted metabolomics identified 94 compounds and 12 differential metabolites, with anthraquinones abundant in roots and flavonoids dominant in stems. Combined with network pharmacology and molecular docking, key active ingredients were found to target TNF-α, IL-6 and other core genes via the PI3K-Akt pathway. Except for lyoniresinol, most active compounds exhibited good target binding activity. LPS-induced mouse experiments further validated the herb's efficacy in lowering fever and suppressing pro-inflammatory cytokines. This research elucidates the chemical disparities among different parts of Berchemia lineata and reveals its multi-component, multi-target antipyretic and anti-inflammatory mechanism, offering references for its rational development and clinical application.