Shijie Bi,1,* Zhenzhen Xu,1,* Anlei Yuan,1 Zewen Wang,1 Yanxia Liu,1 Bin Yu,1 Jiaye Tian,1 Chaoqun Liu,1 Liansheng Qiao,1 Zhibin Wang,2 Yanling Zhang1 

1Key Laboratory of TCM-information Engineer of State Administration of TCM, School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 102488, People’s Republic of China; 2Beijing Tong Ren Tang Technology Development Co., Ltd, Beijing, 100000, People’s Republic of China

*These authors contributed equally to this work

Correspondence: Yanling Zhang, Email zhangyanling@bucm.edu.cn Zhibin Wang, Email wangzhibin4804@126.com

Background: The Yin-Yang attributes of MMDH and JGSQ in treating diabetic nephropathy (DN) remain unexplored.
Methods: UPLC-MS identified formula components, network pharmacology analyzed common DN targets, and in vitro renal fibrosis models assessed efficacy. Transcriptomics revealed key pathways, and molecular docking simulated component-target interactions.
Results: UPLC-MS confirmed the compositional complexity of MMDH and JGSQ. Network pharmacology indicated their involvement in multiple DN-related pathways. In vitro, JGSQ alleviated fibrosis and enhanced adhesion via FN and E-cad, while MMDH reduced interstitial fibrosis via FN and VIM. Transcriptomics showed JGSQ regulates the TGF-β pathway, and MMDH modulates the TNF pathway. Molecular docking confirmed key components binding to TGFB1 and TNFA.
Conclusion: MMDH and JGSQ exhibit distinct chemical compositions, targets, and pathways, underscoring their Yin-Yang regulatory roles in kidney function.

Keywords: diabetic nephropathy, Mingmu Dihuang pill, Jingui Shenqi pill, network pharmacology, transcriptomics