| Objective To investigate the potential mechanism of action of Taohong Siwu decoction in the treatment of osteoporotic fractures by using network pharmacology and molecular docking. Methods The active ingredients and potential targets of Taohong Siwu decoction were screened through TCMSP. GeneCards, OMIM, DrugBank, and DisGeNET databases were used to collect the relevant targets of osteoporotic fractures. A drug-component-target-disease visual network diagram was constructed using Cytoscape 3.8.2 software to screen out the key components of the drug. The intersecting targets were uploaded to the STRING database and the PPI network map was drawn to screen the core targets. The Metascape database was used to perform GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis of the intersecting targets. Finally, AutoDock Tools 1.5.6 and Pymol 2.4.1 software were used to molecularly dock the key components to the core targets. Results There were 152 intersecting targets between Taohong Siwu decoction and osteoporotic fractures. Drug-component-target-disease diagram and PPI results suggested that IL6, JUN, AKT1, MAPK1, TNF might be the core targets of the drug. The GO enrichment analysis showed that the biological functions of the intersecting targets were mainly related to inflammatory immunity, cell proliferation and differentiation, and apoptosis, etc. The KEGG pathway enrichment analysis showed that the network of intersecting targets for Taohong Siwu decoction for osteoporotic fractures mainly included IL17, PI3K-Akt, HIF-1, and Hyroid hormone signaling pathways. Conclusion Taohong Siwu decoction acts on osteoporotic fractures through multiple targets, components, and pathways, and mainly on the regulation of proliferation and differentiation of bone cells, anti-inflammatory, immunity, estrogen synthesis. Further study in biological experiments is meaningful for its’ functional mechanism in the future. |