The combination of Daphnes Cortex (DC) and Liquorice Root (LR), two traditional Chinese medicinal herbs, has shown significant therapeutic effects on rheumatoid arthritis (RA), but its synergistic mechanism of action remains to be elucidated. Employing a network pharmacology and molecular docking approach, this study systematically investigated the synergistic mechanism of the herb pair DC and LR in RA treatment. Active components and their corresponding targets were retrieved from the TCMSP database and relevant literature, and RA-related targets were collected from established disease databases. A total of 73 overlapping targets between DC-LR and RA were identified, among which core targets such as AKT1, TNF, and CASP3 were highlighted. GO and KEGG enrichment analyses revealed that these targets are involved in biological processes such as oxidative stress response and cell migration, and are significantly enriched in key pathways including HIF-1, TNF, and PI3K-Akt signaling pathways. Compatibility analysis further revealed that the combination of DC and LR may enhance therapeutic effects through synergistic regulation of shared targets and complementary modulation of upstream and downstream pathway components. Molecular docking confirmed strong binding affinities between core active components and key targets. This study provides a multi-dimensional "component-target-pathway" perspective on the potential synergistic anti-RA mechanism of the DC-LR herb pair, offering a theoretical basis for further experimental validation and clinical application.

This study explored the therapeutic targets and molecular mechanisms of Huangqi Guizhi Decoction (HGD) in alleviating pulmonary embolism (PE) by employing network pharmacology and molecular docking techniques. Firstly, the effective active components of the Chinese herbs in HGD were retrieved from the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database (TCMSP), and their potential therapeutic targets were predicted using the Swiss Target Prediction platform. Subsequently, PE- related target genes were obtained from the Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM) database and GeneCards database. Then, the Wei Sheng Xin tool was used to generate a Venn diagram for identifying the common targets between the herb-related targets and PE-related targets. After screening these common targets, a “drug-component-target network” and a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network were constructed. Furthermore, Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis were conducted on the intersecting targets, and molecular docking verification was performed using AutoDockTools and PyMol software. Finally, 20 active components were screened from Astragali Radix, 7 from Cinnamomi Ramulus, 13 from Paeoniae Radix Alba, 5 from Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens, and 29 from Jujubae Fructus, with a total of 983 therapeutic targets. Among these targets, 134 were associated with PE, and protein kinase B1 (AKT1), mitogen- activated protein kinase 1 (MAPK1), and transformation-related protein 53 (TP53) served as the core targets. The results of GO and KEGG enrichment analyses indicated that the alleviation of PE by HGD is mainly related to pathways including immune response, regulation of gene expression, atherosclerosis, and tumorigenesis. Molecular docking results showed that the key active components in HGD could bind to the core targets spontaneously and stably. This study revealed that HGD may alleviate symptoms in PE patients by regulating signaling pathways, modulating platelet function to exert anticoagulant effects, and regulating the expression of anti-inflammatory genes, which provided a direction for subsequent experimental research.

Panax notoginseng (P. notoginseng), a valuable traditional Chinese medicine, is the dried root of plants in Acanthopanax gracilistylus family, with the effect of dispersing blood stasis, eliminating swelling and relieving pain. With the development of modern medicine, the active ingredients and mechanisms of P. notoginseng have been gradually revealed. The present paper systematically reviews the chemical composition and biological activities of P. nologinseng, to provide a scientific basis and reference for detailed research on P. nologinseng.

The dried fruit of Forsythia suspensa (Oleaceae), also known as Forsythia, is a traditional Chinese medicinal herb known for its heat-clearing and detoxifying properties. It is used to disperse nodules, reduce swelling, remove toxins, clear heat, and alleviate wind-heat syndromes. It also has hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antibacterial, anticancer, antioxidant, anti- aging, and anti-obesity effects, as well as potential therapeutic effects on Alzheimer’s disease and diabetic nephropathy. It is used to treat scrofula, mastitis, wind-heat common cold, and other ailments. The review summarizes the chemical constituents and pharmacological effects of F. suspensa, aiming to provide a scientific foundation for its future development, research, and clinical utilization.