Exploring the Mechanism of the Anti-Aging Effects of <i>Ganoderma </i><i>lucidum</i> Based on Network Pharmacology and Molecular Docking II

Ganoderma lucidum (Lingzhi) is traditionally recognized for its potential to delay aging, although its precise molecular mechanisms remain unclear. This study employed network pharmacology and molecular docking to investigate the material basis and mechanisms underlying the anti-aging effects of Ganoderma lucidum. Active components of Ganoderma lucidum and their potential targets were identified using the TCMSP database. Aging-related targets were retrieved from the GeneCards, OMIM, and Disgenet databases. The Venny 2.1 online tool was utilized to obtain common targets shared between the drug and the disease (aging). A “Drug-Components-Aging-Targets” network was constructed using Cytoscape 3.8.2, and a Protein-Protein Interaction (PPI) network was generated via the STRING database. Functional enrichment analysis of Gene Ontology (GO) terms and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways for the drug-disease intersection targets was performed using the DAVID database, with results visualized via the Weishengxin website. Finally, molecular docking validation of the binding affinity between key active components and core targets was conducted using SYBYL-X 2.1.1 software. The results identified 29 active components in G. lucidum, 819 aging-related targets, and 98 overlapping targets. Molecular docking demonstrated strong binding activity between core anti-aging components (including ganoderic acid, ganoderenic acid, and ganodermanondiol) and key targets (such as CYP19A1, NR3C1, and HMGCR). This study indicates that the anti-aging effects of Ganoderma lucidum involve synergistic actions through multiple components, targets, and pathways. These findings provide a theoretical foundation for further exploration of its anti-aging mechanisms.