Abstract:
Network pharmacology and Swiss Target Prediction were used to retrieve the associated targets of ferulic acid in relation to food hypersensitivity in this paper, and the key targets and action pathways of ferulic acid in alleviating food allergies were identified by conducting enrichment prediction of GO and KEGG pathways. The binding ability of ferulic acid to these key targets was further validated via molecular docking technology. Finally, the effects of ferulic acid on degranulation of KU812 cells, allergic symptoms and serum specific antibody contents of the sensitized mice by parvalbumin were investigated at the cellular and animal levels, thereby evaluating the efficacy of ferulic acid in alleviating parvalbumin sensitization. The results indicated that 46 crucial targets of ferulic acid for alleviating food allergy were identified. The relevant targets were significantly enriched in pathways including Th17, JAK-STAT, and inflammatory bowel disease. Ferulic acid exhibited favorable binding activity with target proteins NAKB1, STAT3, IL2, and JAK2, and the binding energy all lower than −4.0 kJ/mol. Meanwhile, ferulic acid significantly reduced the release ability of histamine and interleukin-6 in sensitized KU812 cells, mitigated allergic symptoms, decreased the contents of specific antibodies and allergic mediators in the serum of parvalbumin-induced sensitized mice, thereby alleviating their allergic responses. Therefore, ferulic acid has the potential to alleviate food allergies, and the research results provide a theoretical foundation for the development of anti-allergy drugs to treat food allergies.