Network Pharmacology Analysis of Tianwang Buxin Dan on Alzheimer’s Disease

Background: This study explores the mechanism of action of Tianwang Buxin Dan in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) by using the method of network pharmacology. Methods: Using traditional Chinese medicine system pharmacology database and analysis platform (TCMSP), search and screen the active ingredients of Tianwang Buxin Dan formula drugs; Search and screen the potential targets of compounds through Pubchem and Swiss Target Prediction databases; Retrieve the disease genes of Alzheimer’ disease from the DisGeNet database; Obtain the intersection genes of disease genes and active ingredient targets through Venny2.0 software; Then, the STRING database and Cytoscape software were used to construct and analyze the PPI network diagram and the network diagram of prescription drug active ingredient AD target for AD targets; Perform Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis separately by using the DAVID system. Results: There are a total of 458 intersecting genes between Tianwang Buxin Dan and AD. The top 10 core targets selected from Tianwang Buxin Dan are AKT1, IL6, TP53, IL1B, EGFR, ESR1, APP, and STAT3. The active ingredients can regulate KEGG Protein phosphorylation. The positive regulation of MAPK cascade, protein autophosphorylation, positive regulation of ERK1 and ERK2 cascade, peptidyl-tyrosine phosphorylation, signal transduction, and positive regulation of cell proliferation, can respond to xenobiotic stimulus and hypoxia by acting on the aforementioned AD targets, affect biological processes such as protein hydrolysis, protein phosphorylation, estrogen response, and inhibit the production of Aβ, reduce neuronal inflammation and apoptosis, weaken the cholinesterase activity, and ultimately achieve the goal of treating AD. Conclusions: By using network pharmacology methods to study the active ingredients and mechanism of action of Tianwang Buxin Dan in the treatment of AD, it was revealed that Tianwang Buxin Dan has the advantages of multiple components, targets, and pathways in the treatment of AD, providing new ideas for the later experiments of Tianwang Buxin Dan.