Network pharmacology analysis and experimental validation of Yinma Jiedu Granule in the treatment of acute pharyngitis

Yinma Jiedu Granules (YMJD) is a classical Chinese medicinal formula for alleviating inflammatory conditions, such as acute bronchitis and tracheitis. In this study, network pharmacology identified <i>AKT1</i>, <i>IL6,</i> and <i>IL1B</i> as hub genes, and molecular docking confirmed their binding to active ingredients (naringenin, quercetin, and aloe-emodin). Moreover, pathway enrichment analysis indicated YMJD alleviated acute pharyngitis by suppressing oxidative stress and PI3K-AKT signaling pathway. In acute pharyngitis rat model, YMJD improved the symptoms of acute pharyngitis. Mechanistic study showed that YMJD inhibited oxidative stress and inflammatory response through downregulation of PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway, providing evidence for YMJD to treat acute pharyngitis.