Exploration of the Potential Mechanism of Gancao Yangyin Decoction on Aging Based on Network Pharmacology

Objective:To explore the targels and molecular mechanism of Gancao Yangyin Decoction(甘草养阴汤,GCYYD)based on network pharmacology.Methods:The effective chemical components of 7 kinds of Chinese materia medica in GCYYD and their relevant targets were obtai ned through the traditional Chinese medicine systems pharmacology database and analysis platform(TCMSP)and the encyelopedia of traditional Chinese medicine(ETCM).The aging-related targets were obtained through GeneCards database.The targets related to the effective chemical components were mapped with the aging-related targets,and the gene targets of GCY YD for intervening in aging were obtained.The protein interaction network diagram of GCY YD interfering with aging was drawn through String database and Cytoscape 3.7.1 software,and the core target genes were screened.The potential targets obtained were analyzed by gene ontology(GO)biological function enrichment analysis and kyoto encyelopedia of genes and genomes(KEGG)pathway enrichment analysis.Results:Totally 130 effective chemical components of the 7 kinds of Chinese materia medica of GCYYD and 276 related targets were obtained from TCMSP and ETCM databases.Totally 216 aging-related targets were obtained through GeneCards database.There were 63 target genes intervening in aging in GCYYD,with core target genes ALB,AKTI,TNF,L 6,MMP-3,VEGFA,CASP5,etc.Through biological function and signaling pathway enrichment analyses for the target genes with R software,147 KEGG signaling pathways were found,mainly related to age-RAGE signaling pathway in diabetic complications,proteoglycans in cancer,fluid shear stress and atherosclero-sis,HIF-1 signaling pathway,human cytomegalovirus infection,celluar senescence,prostate cancer,bladder cancer,elte.Conclusion:GCYYD can intervene in aging through"multicomponents-mulitargets-multipath-ways",which lays foundation for further experimental research.