OBJECTIVE: To analyze the core components

key targets

biological functions and signal pathways of radix bupleuri-cassia twig in the treatment of acute ischemic stroke by using the network pharmacology method

and to verify the effect of the method by molecular docking technology. METHODS: The active components from radix bupleuri and Cassia twig were obtained by raditional Chinese medicine systems pharmacology database and analysis platform（ TCMSP） and converted into human genes by Uniprot database. The disease genes of acute ischemic stroke were obtained by OMIM and Genecards database. The common genes of drugs and diseases were screened

the“active components-disease targets ” network was constructed by Cytoscape software

and protein interaction analysis and enrichment analysis of the intersecting genes were performed by STRING database and Metascape database

respectively. Molecular docking was verified by Auto Dock software and docking results were drawn by PyMol software.RESULTS: A total of 19 active components and 150 targets of radix bupleuri-cassia twig in the treatment of acute ischemic stroke were obtained. Quercetin and kaempferol were selected as the core active components

AKT1

IL-6

VEGFA

TNF

TP53 and CASP3 were the core target genes. Enrichment analysis showed that the anti-acute ischemic stroke targets of radix bupleuri and Cassia twig were significantly enriched in cancer pathway

AGE-RAGE pathway

hepatitis C pathway and HIF-1 signaling pathway. The results of molecular docking showed that there was strong binding activity between the core active components and the core targets of radix bupleuri-cassia twig

and quercetin had the strongest binding activity with TNF protein. CONCLUSIONS: The active components of radix bupleuri-cassia twig play a role in the treatment of acute ischemic stroke by affecting the biological processes such as inflammatory response

oxidative stress

angiogenesis and apoptosis

which is characterized by multiple components

multiple targets and multiple pathways.