OBJECTIVE: To analyze the potential mechanism of rhizoma atractylodes macrocephala in compatible with radix paeoniae alba in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome（ IBS） based on network pharmacology.METHODS: The Traditional Chinese Medicine System Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform（ TCMSP） was retrieved for the chemical components and effect targets of rhizoma atractylodes macrocephala and radix paeoniae alba

and the genes corresponding to the targets were queried by Uniprot database

the IBS disease targets were obtained through GeneCards database

disease-related genes and mutation loci database and therapeutic target database. Wayne intersection analysis was performed on drug pair action target genes and disease targets

the Cytoscape 3. 7. 2 software was adopted to construct a "drug pair-active component-effect target"network and the String database was used to analyze protein-protein interactions. Meanwhile

the gene ontology（ GO） functional enrichment analysis and the Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes（ KEGG） pathway enrichment analysis were performed by using the Metascape database platform. RESULTS: Through screening

totally 20 kinds of active components corresponding to 89 potential effect targets were obtained from the rhizoma atractylodes macrocephala-radix paeoniae alba pair; 1 774 disease targets were obtained by IBS after de-duplication

and 55 intersecting targets existed after comparison. Among them

20 kinds of major active components

including kaempferol

3β-acetoxy

β-sitosterol

catechin

8β-ethoxy atractylolactone Ⅲ

paeoniflorin and sitosterol

might act on IBS through 55 potential key targets

including AKT1

IL-6

TNF

PTGS2

JUN

CAT and CASP3. Totally 47 GO items were obtained from GO functional enrichment analysis（ P ≤0. 01）

of which 20 items were biological process

9 items were cell constituent

18 items were molecular function

mainly involving toxic substance stress response

blood circulation

reactive oxygen metabolic process and xenobiotic stress response. Totally 15 signaling pathways were obtained from KEGG pathway enrichment analysis（ P≤0. 01）

including AGE-RAGE signaling pathway

calcium signaling pathway and HIF-1 signaling pathway in diabetic complications.CONCLUSIONS: The network pharmacological analysis revealed that the potentially active components of rhizoma atractylodes macrocephala-radix paeoniae alba pair including kaempferol

paeoniflorin

8β-ethoxylated atractylolactoneⅢ and β-sitosterol mainly plays the therapeutic role in the treatment of IBS by regulating the AGE-RAGE signaling pathway

calcium signaling pathway and other mechanisms of action.