Abstract

Ethnopharmacological relevance Infection of vaginal epithelial cells by Candida albicans (C. albicans) can cause vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC). Pulsatilla decoction has been reported and used to treat VVC, but the specific mechanism of its protective effect on cells is still unclear. Aim of the study In this study, transcriptomic profiling and molecular docking were used to predict the protective effects and regulatory mechanisms of the n-butanol extract of Pulsatilla Decoction (BEPD) in vaginal epithelial cells stimulated with C. albicans hyphae, and these findings were further validated experimentally. Materials and Methods To prepare the n-butanol extract from Pulsatilla decoction, transcriptome analysis was performed to identify significantly enriched genes and signaling pathways in vaginal epithelial cells stimulated with C. albicans hyphae. RT-qPCR was used to detect the expression levels of genes related to the HIF-1α pathway. Molecular docking was employed to verify the interactions between the main active components of BEPD and HIF-1α, as well as glucose metabolism-related proteins within the pathway. Immunofluorescence was used to detect the expression levels of HIF-1α, PFK2, ENO1, PDK1, Glut1, and LDHA. The cellular contents of ATP, lactic acid, and LDH were measured to reflect changes in sugar metabolism-related products. Western blot and ELISA were used to determine the levels of inflammatory factors such as IL-1β and IL-2 in vaginal epithelial cells stimulated by C. albicans hyphae and treated with BEPD. Results BEPD exhibits a significant protective effect on vaginal epithelial cells stimulated by C. albicans hyphae. Transcriptomic analysis, including GO enrichment and KEGG pathway analysis, indicates that BEPD can regulate HIF-1α and its associated glucose metabolism disturbances in vaginal epithelial cells exposed to C. albicans hyp