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Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine >

2026 , Vol. 46 >Issue 2: 371 - 381

DOI: https://doi.org/10.19852/j.cnki.jtcm.20250929.001

Original Articles

Mechanic evaluation of Jisheng Shenqi Wan (济生肾气丸) on calcium oxalate kidney stones: an integrated network pharmacology and metabolomics

  • SHI Bing ,
  • LI Yang ,
  • JIANG Zhuocheng ,
  • QIN Guozheng ,
  • ZHAO Fan
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  • 1 Department of Urology, Nantong Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nantong 226000, China
    2 the First Clinical College, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210000, China
    3 Department of Gynaecology, Nantong Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nantong 226000, China
    4 Department of Urology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong 226000, China
    5 Department of Urology and Andrology, the First Affifiliated Hospital of Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine, Kunming 650000, China
Dr. ZHAO Fan, Department of Urology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong 226000, China;
Prof. QIN Guozheng, the First Clinical College, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210000, China; Department of Urology and Andrology, the First Affifiliated Hospital of Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine, Kunming 650000, China. Telephone: + 86-18752867039

Received date: 2025-02-26

  Accepted date: 2025-06-09

  Online published: 2025-09-29

Supported by

Grant from Jiangsu Provincial Research Hospital(YJXYY202204-YSA05);Young Elite Scientists Sponsorship Program by China Association of Chinese Medicine(2023-QNRC2-B21);Nantong University Special Research Fund for Clinical Medicine: Exploring the Mechanism of Jisheng Shenqi Wan in Preventing and Treating Calcium Oxalate Kidney Stones Based on Oxidative Stress and Ferroptosis(2024JQ049);Nantong Social Livelihood Science and Technology Plan Project: Exploring the Mechanism of Jisheng Shenqi Wan in Preventing and Treating Calcium Oxalate Kidney Stones Based on the Concept of “Shen-Kidney Theory”(MS2024013)

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Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To understand the efficacy of Jisheng Shenqi Wan (JSSQW, 济生肾气丸) in treating calcium oxalate kidney stones (KS) and to investigate the mechanism of JSSQW action by combining network pharmacology with metabolomics analysis based on ultra-high performance liquid chromatography combined with tandem electrostatic field orbital trap high-resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-Q/Orbitrap HRMS).

METHODS: The chemical components of JSSQW absorbed into rat blood were identified by UHPLC-Q/Orbitrap HRMS. The identified components were introduced into the Bioinformatics Analysis Tool for Molecular mechanism of Traditional Chinese Medicine platform to screen for target genes, followed by Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis and disease enrichment analysis. A KS rat model was generated using the oxalic acid precursor method to examine the efficacy of JSSQW for treating KS. Serum metabolomics was used to monitor changes in endogenous substances in KS rats after JSSQW intervention.

RESULTS: Twenty-three chemicals from JSSQW were identified in the blood of JSSQW gavage-administered rats. KEGG enrichment analysis predicted the top 20 signaling pathways affected by these 23 chemicals. Disease enrichment analysis showed that the target genes of these 23 chemicals were enriched in diseases of the urinary system and endocrine system, including kidney stones. In a KS rat model, JSSQW inhibited the aggregation of calcium oxalate crystals, reduced renal tubular injury, lowered the renal index, and improved biochemical indicators (blood creatinine, blood urea nitrogen). Serum metabolomics identified 25 differential metabolites that responded to JSSQW treatment. They were mainly lipids, with phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphorylcholine and their derivatives accounting for the highest proportion. Metabolic pathway analysis showed that the changes in differential metabolites were related to multiple metabolic pathways, especially sphingolipid metabolism and sphingolipid signaling pathways.

CONCLUSIONS: JSSQW can inhibit the aggregation of calcium oxalate crystals in the kidneys, reduce tubular injury, and improve kidney function in KS rats. Its mechanism of action may be related to regulating disordered metabolites and metabolic pathways, especially glycerol phospholipid metabolism, sphingolipid metabolism, and sphingolipid signaling.

Key words： kidney stones; network pharmacology; metabolomics; ultra-high performance liquid chromatography combined with tandem electrostatic field orbital trap high-resolution mass spectrometry; Jisheng Shenqi Wan

Cite this article

SHI Bing , LI Yang , JIANG Zhuocheng , QIN Guozheng , ZHAO Fan . Mechanic evaluation of Jisheng Shenqi Wan (济生肾气丸) on calcium oxalate kidney stones: an integrated network pharmacology and metabolomics[J]. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2026 , 46(2) : 371 -381 . DOI: 10.19852/j.cnki.jtcm.20250929.001

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