ABSTRACT
Objective::To analyze the potential targets and mechanism of Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma-Astragali Radix treatment in lung cancer based on network pharmacology. Method::The Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma, Astragali Radix ingredients and target genes were screened by the traditional Chinese medicine system pharmacology database and analysis platform (TCMSP). Lung cancer-related target genes were obtained from the human gene database (GeneCards). Cytoscape was used for constructing a " drug-ingredient-target-disease" network. Protein-to-protein interaction (PPI) data was downloaded from STRING and then PPI core genes was constructed by CentiScape. Gene ontology (GO) and kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis of key target genes was performed using R software. Result::A total of 17 Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma and 16 Astragali Radix ingredients were screened. 50 target genes of Astragali Radix and 95 target genes of Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma in the treatment of lung cancer were obtained. A " drug-ingredient-target-disease" network was constructed. 38 PPI core genes were screened using CentiScape. GO function enrichment showed that biological functions of Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma-Astragali Radix were concentrated in nuclear receptor function, transcription-related function, ubiquitination and apoptosis. KEGG pathway enrichment showed that Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma-Astragali Radix treatment in lung cancer were mainly involved in phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/Akt), apoptosis, tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and other pathways. Conclusion::By constructing a " drug-ingredient-target-disease" network, the mechanism of Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma-Astragali Radix treatment in lung cancer was discussed from the perspective of multi-component, multi-target and multi-pathway, which provides reference for further research.