ABSTRACT
Using the literature retrieval tool Arrowsmith to explore the possible modern medical mechanisms of Xiaoyao Powder and single herb in the treatment of depression from the theoretical level. The related literature retrieval tool Arrowsmith was used to search and find the associated literature. The results were analyzed and summarized from the single drug, compound of Xiaoyao Powder, and common key terms. Correlation analysis between the composition of Xiaoyao Powder and the mechanism of antidepressant effect by Cytoscape tool. The results showed that different single drugs in Xiaoyao Powder may affect the nerve-endocrine-immune and other key pathways by regulating TLR4, TRPV1, Caspase-3, PPARG, COX-2, NRF2, PI3K, ERK1, MAPK, p38 MAPK, and other targets. Anxiety, restraint stress, spleen deficiency, learning, and memory play an antidepressant role. The main acting site of Xiaoyao Powder anti-depression is in the hippocampus. The antidepression effect of Xiaoyao Powder embodies the characteristics of multi-component, multi-target and multi-pathway of traditional Chinese medicine. Through Arrowsmith search, this study provides a scientific basis for further elucidating the mechanism of antidepression effect of Xiaoyao Powder, and provides research directions and ideas for the research of traditional Chinese medicine compound prescription.