A comprehensive study of Tianma Toutong Tablets from the dual dimensions of quality and efficacy using fingerprint techniques and network pharmacology.

Background: The quality of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is the prerequisite for ensuring its safe and effective clinical application. With the increasing popularity of TCM worldwide, the quality control of TCM products has become increasingly crucial. Tianma toutong tablet (TMTTT) is mainly used for migraine caused by external wind and cold, blood stasis, or deficiency of blood and nourishment. However, the mechanism of action of TMTTT is still unclear, and there has been a lack of in vitro antioxidant activity research and migraine treatment mechanism research. Therefore, it is urgent to establish a set of comprehensive and effective evaluation methods.

Results: three fingerprint profiles were established using HPLC, UV, and DSC analysis methods, and established three digital parameters simple complexity index (SX), simple clarity index (SY), simple complexity clarity ratio (S), 22 batches of samples were evaluated using a comprehensive linear quantitative fingerprint method (CLQFM). In addition, the antioxidant activity of the samples was determined using the DPPH method, and the relationship between fingerprint peaks in different fingerprints and antioxidant capacity was explored using Pearson correlation coefficients. Finally, network pharmacological research was conducted to investigate the potential targets, compounds, and pathways involved in the treatment of migraines with TMTTT. The results showed that the 22 batches of samples were classified into different quality grades. TMTTT exhibited good antioxidant activity, the fingerprint-efficacy relationship showed that gastrodin, chlorogenic acid, ferulic acid, imperatorin and isoimperatorin had strong antioxidant capacity, providing directions for the identification of active compounds. A total of 36 core targets were identified and screened by network pharmacology, which AKT serine/threonine kinase 1 (AKT1), albumin (ALB), insulin (INS), tumor necrosis factor (TNF), prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2 (PTGS2) and interleukin-6 (IL-6), and compounds such as β-sitosterol, chrysophanol, vanillin are the key to the treatment of migraine, providing references for subsequent clinical research and new drug development.

Significance: This study examined the consistency of the quality of TMTTT and the mechanism of action in treating migraines from both quality and efficacy perspectives, providing a favorable direction for further research on TMTTT and offering new ideas for the quality control of TCM compound formulations.