Immunomodulatory activity of bamboo biosilica from Dendrocalamus longispathus Kurz. - Metabolomics integrated network pharmacology approach

Abstract

Background: Bamboo has been used in traditional Asian medicine since ancient times. Silica is formed in the shoot internodes of various bamboo species. This bamboo-derived silica, referred to as bamboo biosilica or "banslochan" (in Sanskrit), possesses multiple health benefits. In Ayurveda, this has been described to have immunomodulatory properties and is a significant component of "Chywanprash", a well-known Ayurvedic formulation.

Objectives: This study aims to validate the therapeutic claim of the immunomodulatory effect of bamboo biosilica by metabolite profiling-based network pharmacology approach and luciferase reporter gene assay to elucidate the probable mechanism of action.

Methods: Bamboo biosilica from internodes of Dendrocalamus longispathus Kurz. was collected from Aibawk region of Mizoram and subjected to various physicochemical tests. Hydroalcoholic extraction of bamboo biosilica and commercial food-grade silica was carried out, and different qualitative and quantitative phytochemical analyses were conducted. In-vitro, cytotoxicity of the biosilica was assessed in RAW 264.7 (murine macrophage) cells, followed by an immunomodulatory assay. The metabolite profiling-based network pharmacology of the bamboo biosilica hydroalcoholic extract was carried out to establish the probable mechanism of action, disease association and pathway analysis.

Results: The results showed both bamboo biosilica hydroalcoholic extract exhibited significant immunostimulatory activity compared to commercial silica. UHPLC-QTOF-MS/MS based characterization followed by network pharmacology approach confirmed the presence of flavones and acyclic monoterpenoids responsible for immunomodulatory potential via arachidonic acid metabolism, activation of NF-κβ, PI3K-Akt, and MAPK signaling pathway.

Conclusion: This study provides the first comprehensive evidence of significant immunostimulatory effect of bamboo biosilica through multiple immune-metabolic pathways positioning it as a promising natural immunopotentiating agent.

Keywords: Bamboo biosilica; Dendrocalamus longipsathus Kurz.; Immunomodulation; NF-κB activation; Network pharmacology; UHPLC-QTOF-MS/MS.