Exploring the Mahuang Fuzi Xixin Decoction’s mechanism for treating Alzheimer’s disease using molecular docking and network pharmacology

MFXD potentially exerts anti-AD effects through a multi-component, multi-target, multi-pathway approach. Its key active components (quercetin, luteolin) may act by modulating the core target MMP9. Also, MFXD can simultaneously regulate several pathways, such as the TNF signaling pathway, Calcium signaling pathway, and NF-κB signaling pathway, and target Tau protein-related pathology by restoring the phosphorylation level of GSK-3β to suppress abnormal hyperphosphorylation of Tau, and thereby alleviating pathological damage in AD.