OBJECTIVE: To explore the related targets and signal pathways of Simiao Yong ’an decoction intervening gout arthritis by using network pharmacology combined with molecular docking technology

so as to probe into the mechanism of Simiao Yong’an decoction in the treatment of gout arthritis. METHODS: The active ingredients and targets of four herbs in the formula of Simiao Yong’an decoction were screened out by the traditional Chinese medicine systems pharmacology database and analysis platform（ TCMSP）

the related gene targets of gout arthritis were screened out by online mendelian inheritance in man（ OMIM）

GeneCards

PharmGkb

DrugBank and therapeutic target database（ TTD）

the common intersection of drug targets and disease targets were obtained after integration

and the network diagram of “active ingredient-core target”was topologized with the help of Cytoscape3. 7. 2 software

the protein-protein interaction（ PPI） network diagram was obtained through the STRING online database platform

and the gene ontology（ GO） functional enrichment analysis and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes（ KEGG） pathway enrichment analysis were used for the acquired key targets. Finally

the matching and validation of molecular docking on main active ingredients and core targets of the drug were conducted by using Autodock 1. 5. 6 software. RESULTS: Totally 96 active ingredients and 38 targets were screened out in the intervention of Simiao Yong ’an decoction on gouty arthritis

including the main active ingredients of quercetin

kaempferol

naringenin and lignan

including the main targets of PTGS2

NOS2

PPARG

MAPK14 and PTGS1. The PPI network had analyzed 8 core targets including CXCL8

PTGS2

MAPK3

TNF

IL-1β

CCL2

MAPK1 and HMOX1. Results of the molecular docking indicated that the main active ingredients of Simiao Yong’an decoction could bind to the core targets and showed good affinity. CONCLUSIONS: The application of Simiao Yong’an decoction in the treatment of gouty arthritis has the characteristics of multiple pathways

multiple components and multiple targets

the potential mechanism of Simiao Yong’an decoction in the treatment of gouty arthritis may be related to its effects of degrading uric acid

down-regulating the expression of inflammatory factors and regulating immune function.