ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To explore the molecular mechanism and targets with"Relieving the Depressed Liver" effectofemotional diseases treatment by Radix Bupleuri. METHOD: Systems pharmacology methodwas employed to exploring the ingredients, targets and diseases information which was related "Relieving the Depressed Liver" effect in Radix Bupleuri. Next, the "disease-target" network and "drug-target" network were built by Cytoscape 3.2.1 and we analyzed the network by using network topological analysis method and systems pharmacological data. RESULT: Twenty-five targets were found to be associated with emotional diseases. Eight core ingredients from 118 ingredients in Radix Bupleuri were directly related to these targets. The molecular mechanism of Radix Bupleuri treatment of emotional diseases is produced by the interactions between the 118 ingredients and 25 potential targets, and eight core compounds may play a central role in the process of this treatment mechanism. CONCLUSION: Through the construction of systems pharmacology models, the molecular mechanism of "Relieving the Depressed Liver" effect of Radix Bupleuri from the system level is we interpreted. Our study provides a theoretical foundation for the explanation of TCM treating mechanism and "treat different diseases with same Chinese medicine" phenomenon.