Combined with network pharmacology, the therapeutic effect and mechanism of coumarins from Chimonanthus praecox extract in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease were investigated.
The objective of this study is to investigate the therapeutic potential and underlying mechanisms of Chimonanthus praecox-derived coumarins in Alzheimer's disease (AD)-related neuroinflammatory and cognitive impairments. Network pharmacology was employed to identify active components and targets of Chimonanthus praecox-derived coumarins, followed by intersection analysis with AD-related genes. A protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed and subjected to functional enrichment analysis. Molecular docking was performed to validate the binding affinity between key compounds and core targets. An AD-like rat model characterized by aging-related cognitive impairment and neuroinflammation was established using D-galactose and aluminum chloride, and therapeutic effects of coumarin treatment were evaluated via behavioral testing, HE staining, immunohistochemistry, Western blotting, and electroencephalography (EEG). Four active compounds, 58 drug targets, and 19 AD-related intersecting targets were identified, primarily enriched in neuroinflammation-related pathways including NF-κB p65, NLRP3, and Alzheimer's disease-related pathways. Molecular docking showed strong binding of key coumarin derivatives to amyloid precursor protein (APP), apolipoprotein E4 (APOE4), NF-κB p65, and prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2 (PTGS2). In vivo, Chimonanthus praecox-derived coumarin treatment improved aging-associated cognitive deficits, alleviated hippocampal neuronal injury, inhibited APP and APOE4 expression, and significantly downregulated NF-κB p65, PTGS2, IL-6, and NLRP3 levels. EEG analysis further confirmed attenuation of abnormal neural activity. Chimonanthus praecox-derived coumarins exert neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory effects through multi-target modulation, supporting their potential as candidate agents for AD-related neuroinflammatory and cognitive dysfunction.