Integrated UPLC-ESI-MS/MS, network pharmacology, and transcriptomics to reveal the material basis and mechanism of Schisandra chinensis Fruit Mixture against diabetic nephropathy.

Backgrounds: It has been regarded as an essential treatment option for diabetic nephropathy (DN) in Traditional Chinese medicine. Previous studies have demonstrated the anti-DN efficacy of Schisandra chinensis Fruit Mixture (SM); however, a comprehensive chemical fingerprint is still uncertain, and its mechanism of action, especially the potential therapeutic targets of anti-DN, needs to be further elucidated.

Objective: Potential mechanisms of SM action on DN were explored through network pharmacology and experimental validation.