Comprehensive network pharmacology study on Huangjing Wan in the treatment of ischaemic stroke

Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability worldwide, with ischemic strokes accounting for the majority of cases. Huangjing Wan (HJW) is a classical Chinese herbal formula used in the treatment of stroke, but the precise mechanisms of action remain unclear. We retrieved the active components of HJW, along with their related targets and the targets associated with middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO), by conducting a search across relevant databases. The common targets obtained from the intersection of the 2 target sets were used to establish both a compound-target interaction network and a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network. A Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) bioinformatic analysis was ultimately performed to identify the potential signaling pathways associated with HJW in the treatment of MCAO. Through searching and screening a series of databases, we identified 129 active ingredient-associated targets of HJW and 1246 therapeutic targets for MCAO. The intersection of the 2 sets yielded 40 overlapping targets. Based on these 40 common targets, a compound-target interaction network and a PPI network were constructed. Finally, KEGG pathway enrichment analysis revealed that the key signaling pathways potentially involved in HJW treatment of MCAO primarily include the Hepatitis B pathway, the lipid and atherosclerosis pathway, and the Apoptosis pathway. This study reveals that HJW primarily exerts its therapeutic effects on MCAO through the Hepatitis B virus pathway, the lipid and atherosclerosis pathway, and the apoptosis pathway, providing a theoretical basis for further in-depth research.