Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine ›› 2026, Vol. 46 ›› Issue (2): 382-391.DOI: 10.19852/j.cnki.jtcm.2026.02.010
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Mechanism of Shaofu Zhuyu decoction (少腹逐瘀汤) in improving diabetic mellitus erectile dysfunction via inhibition of ferroptosis based on network pharmacology and experimental validation
WANG Zhuo1, MAO Yinhui1, ZANG Yueyue1, HE Shuangyan1, SUN Juntao1, WEI Zhitao2, WANG Mingxing3(
), YANG Yong2()
- 1
Changchun University of Chinese Medicine Changchun 130117, China
2Department of Urology ,the Affiliated Hospital of Changchun University of Chinese Medicine Changchun 130021, China
3Department of Experimental Center ,the Affiliated Hospital of Changchun University of Chinese Medicine Changchun 130021, China
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Received:2025-05-09Accepted:2026-01-12Online:2026-04-15Published:2026-04-04 -
Contact:WANG Mingxing, Department of Experimental Center, the Affiliated Hospital of Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun 130021, China. 578658688@qq.com; YANG Yong, Department of Urology, the Affiliated Hospital of Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun 130021, China. yongyang301@163.com; Telephone: +86-18946546330 -
Supported by:National Natural Science Foundation of China (Mechanism of Ginsenoside Rk1 in Treating Ulcerative Colitis by Regulating Macrophage Polarization Based on Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Phosphorylation)(82374128);Department of Science and Technology of Jilin Province (Research on the Mechanism of Endogenous Stem Cells in Mechanical Force Therapy for Neurogenic Erectile Dysfunction)(ydzj202301zyts138);Projects in Health Commission of Jilin Province (Research on the Mechanism of Low-intensity Pulsed Ultrasound in the Treatment of Late-onset Hypogonadism via the Wnt Family Member 5a/beta-Catenin Axis(2022jc043);Projects in Health Commission of Jilin Province (Research on the Mechanism of Microencapsulated Adipose-Derived Stem Cells in the Treatment of Neurogenic Erectile Dysfunction)(2022jc048)
Cite this article
WANG Zhuo, MAO Yinhui, ZANG Yueyue, HE Shuangyan, SUN Juntao, WEI Zhitao, WANG Mingxing, YANG Yong. Mechanism of Shaofu Zhuyu decoction (少腹逐瘀汤) in improving diabetic mellitus erectile dysfunction via inhibition of ferroptosis based on network pharmacology and experimental validation[J]. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2026, 46(2): 382-391.
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Figure 1 Property and association analysis of high-frequency herbs for DMED A: distribution of properties of high-frequency herbs used in the treatment of DMED; B: distribution of flavors of high-frequency herbs used in the treatment of DMED; C: distribution of meridian tropisms of high-frequency herbs used in the treatment of DMED; D: classification of high-frequency herbal medicine categories; E: association rule network of high-frequency herbs; F: k-means clustering analysis of herbal components; G: regression simulation of herbal frequency and efficacy. DMED: diabetes mellitus induced erectile dysfunction; TCM: Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Figure 1 Property and association analysis of high-frequency herbs for DMED A: distribution of properties of high-frequency herbs used in the treatment of DMED; B: distribution of flavors of high-frequency herbs used in the treatment of DMED; C: distribution of meridian tropisms of high-frequency herbs used in the treatment of DMED; D: classification of high-frequency herbal medicine categories; E: association rule network of high-frequency herbs; F: k-means clustering analysis of herbal components; G: regression simulation of herbal frequency and efficacy. DMED: diabetes mellitus induced erectile dysfunction; TCM: Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Figure 2 Functional enrichment analysis of the potential targets of SFZYD for the treatment of DMED A: GO analysis (including BP; CC; MF); B: KEGG analysis. SFZYD: Shaofu Zhuyu decoction; DMED: diabetes mellitus erectile dysfunction; GO: gene ontology; BP: biological process; CC: cellular component; MF: molecular function; KEGG: kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes.
Figure 2 Functional enrichment analysis of the potential targets of SFZYD for the treatment of DMED A: GO analysis (including BP; CC; MF); B: KEGG analysis. SFZYD: Shaofu Zhuyu decoction; DMED: diabetes mellitus erectile dysfunction; GO: gene ontology; BP: biological process; CC: cellular component; MF: molecular function; KEGG: kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes.
Figure 3 Effects of SFZYD on corpus cavernosum pathology in high-glucose induced CCECs A: hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining of the corpus cavernosum in each group (× 200); B: Masson staining of the corpus cavernosum in each group (× 200); A1, B1: Control group CCECs; A2, B2: 50 mM high-glucose group; A3, B3: era 3 μM ferroptosis agonist group; A4, B4: HG + SFZYD group; A5, B5: HG + 2 μM Fer-1 ferroptosis inhibitor group. Control: normal control group (CCECs cultured in normal glucose medium without any intervention); HG: 50 mM high-glucose group (CCECs cultured in medium containing 50 mM high-glucose); Era: era 3 μM ferroptosis agonist group (CCECs cultured in 50 mM high-glucose medium + 3 μM Era ferroptosis agonist); HG + SFZYD: high-glucose + Shaofu Zhuyu decoction group (CCECs cultured in 50 mM high-glucose medium + SFZYD intervention); HG + Fer-1: high-glucose + Fer-1 group (CCECs cultured in 50 mM high-glucose medium + 2 μM Fer-1 ferroptosis inhibitor). HE: hematoxylin-eosin; SFZYD: Shaofu Zhuyu decoction; CCECs: corpus cavernosum endothelial cells; HG: high-glucose; Fer-1: ferrostatin-1; Era: erastin.
Figure 3 Effects of SFZYD on corpus cavernosum pathology in high-glucose induced CCECs A: hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining of the corpus cavernosum in each group (× 200); B: Masson staining of the corpus cavernosum in each group (× 200); A1, B1: Control group CCECs; A2, B2: 50 mM high-glucose group; A3, B3: era 3 μM ferroptosis agonist group; A4, B4: HG + SFZYD group; A5, B5: HG + 2 μM Fer-1 ferroptosis inhibitor group. Control: normal control group (CCECs cultured in normal glucose medium without any intervention); HG: 50 mM high-glucose group (CCECs cultured in medium containing 50 mM high-glucose); Era: era 3 μM ferroptosis agonist group (CCECs cultured in 50 mM high-glucose medium + 3 μM Era ferroptosis agonist); HG + SFZYD: high-glucose + Shaofu Zhuyu decoction group (CCECs cultured in 50 mM high-glucose medium + SFZYD intervention); HG + Fer-1: high-glucose + Fer-1 group (CCECs cultured in 50 mM high-glucose medium + 2 μM Fer-1 ferroptosis inhibitor). HE: hematoxylin-eosin; SFZYD: Shaofu Zhuyu decoction; CCECs: corpus cavernosum endothelial cells; HG: high-glucose; Fer-1: ferrostatin-1; Era: erastin.
Figure 4 Effect of SFZYD on oxidative stress and ferroptosis-related markers A: SOD activity; B: GPX activity; C: CAT activity; D: MDA levels; E: Fe²⁺ concentration. Control: normal control group (without any intervention); ML385: Nrf2 inhibitor model group (treated with Nrf2 inhibitor ML385 alone); Era: erastin group (treated with erastin, a ferroptosis inducer); ML385 + SFZY: SFZYD treatment group (treated with Nrf2 inhibitor ML385 + 300 μg/mL SFZYD); ML385+Fer-1: ferroptosis inhibitor positive control group (treated with Nrf2 inhibitor ML385 + Fer-1, a ferroptosis inhibitor). The course of intervention was consistent among all groups. SFZYD: Shufu Zhuyu decoction; SOD: superoxide dismutase; GPx: glutathione peroxidase; CAT: catalase; MDA: malondialdehyde; Fer-1: ferrostatin-1; ANOVA: analysis of variance; Era: erastin; ML385: Nrf2 inhibitor.. Statistical significance was assessed using one-way ANOVA. All data were expressed as the mean ± standard deviation (n = 3). aP < 0.05, compared with the control group; bP < 0.05, compared with the model group (ML385).
Figure 4 Effect of SFZYD on oxidative stress and ferroptosis-related markers A: SOD activity; B: GPX activity; C: CAT activity; D: MDA levels; E: Fe²⁺ concentration. Control: normal control group (without any intervention); ML385: Nrf2 inhibitor model group (treated with Nrf2 inhibitor ML385 alone); Era: erastin group (treated with erastin, a ferroptosis inducer); ML385 + SFZY: SFZYD treatment group (treated with Nrf2 inhibitor ML385 + 300 μg/mL SFZYD); ML385+Fer-1: ferroptosis inhibitor positive control group (treated with Nrf2 inhibitor ML385 + Fer-1, a ferroptosis inhibitor). The course of intervention was consistent among all groups. SFZYD: Shufu Zhuyu decoction; SOD: superoxide dismutase; GPx: glutathione peroxidase; CAT: catalase; MDA: malondialdehyde; Fer-1: ferrostatin-1; ANOVA: analysis of variance; Era: erastin; ML385: Nrf2 inhibitor.. Statistical significance was assessed using one-way ANOVA. All data were expressed as the mean ± standard deviation (n = 3). aP < 0.05, compared with the control group; bP < 0.05, compared with the model group (ML385).
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