Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2026, Vol. 30 ›› Issue (34): 8953- 8961.doi: 10.12307/2026.850

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Mechanisms by which mangiferin alleviates pain in osteoarthritis: integration of microarray data analysis, network pharmacology, and experimental validation in a rat model

Jing Kun1, 2, Wang Yulu², Liang Hao1, 2, Huo Yuhang1, 2, Cong Longxu1, 2   

  1. 1School of Medicine, Baotou Medical College, Inner Mongolia University of Science and Technology, Baotou 014040, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China; 2The First Affiliated Hospital of Baotou Medical College, Inner Mongolia University of Science and Technology, Baotou 014017, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
  • Received:2025-09-17 Revised:2026-01-17 Online:2026-12-08 Published:2026-04-13
  • Contact: Wang Yulu, PhD, Chief physician, The First Affiliated Hospital of Baotou Medical College, Inner Mongolia University of Science and Technology, Baotou 014017, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
  • About author:Jing Kun, MS, School of Medicine, Baotou Medical College, Inner Mongolia University of Science and Technology, Baotou 014040, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China; The First Affiliated Hospital of Baotou Medical College, Inner Mongolia University of Science and Technology, Baotou 014017, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
  • Supported by:
    Natural Science Foundation Project of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, No. 2018MS08142 (to WYL); Baotou Medical College Scientific Research Fund Project, No. BYJJ-ZRQM202326 (to WYL) 

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Mangiferin, a major bioactive compound derived from mango trees, is widely present in various traditional Chinese medicinal herbs and exhibits multiple biological functions including antibacterial, cholesterol-lowering, and anti-allergic effects. Existing studies have suggested that mangiferin may prevent and treat osteoarthritis pain. However, its specific mechanism of action remains unclear to date.
OBJECTIVE: To systematically investigate the key targets and potential mechanisms of mangiferin in the treatment of osteoarthritis by integrating gene expression omnibus (GEO) microarray data analysis, network pharmacology, and molecular docking techniques, and to validate the findings through animal experiments.
METHODS: First, potential therapeutic targets for osteoarthritis were mined using GEO microarray data. Next, the therapeutic targets of mangiferin were predicted by combining professional databases, and disease targets related to osteoarthritis were collected. A Venn diagram was generated using the EVenn platform, and a protein-protein interaction network was constructed using the STRING database. Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analyses were performed. A drug-target-pathway-disease network diagram was generated using Cytoscape 3.8.0 software, and molecular docking analyses and visualizations were conducted via the CBDOCK2 online platform. The osteoarthritis rat model was established using the anterior cruciate ligament transection method, followed by intervention with different concentrations of mangiferin, and the therapeutic effects were observed and recorded.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) A total of 144 potential targets for mangiferin were identified from multiple databases. (2) Protein-protein interaction network analysis revealed key targets such as interleukin 6, tumor necrosis factor, and nuclear factor κB1. (3) Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment analysis indicated that mangiferin may be involved in 235 signaling pathways, including those related to lipids, atherosclerosis, advanced glycation end product-receptor of advanced glycation end product, hypoxia-inducible factor 1, and estrogen, all of which are closely associated with inflammation. (4) In animal experiments, after 4 weeks of treatment with 40 μmol/L mangiferin, there was no significant difference in weight-bearing of the hind limbs between the treatment and sham surgery groups. Overall, mangiferin may exert therapeutic effects on osteoarthritis through a multi-target and multi-pathway mode of action, providing new potential strategies and theoretical foundations for the treatment of osteoarthritis.

Key words: mangiferin, osteoarthritis, network pharmacology, pain, gene expression omnibus database

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