Exploration of the Potential Targets and Molecular Mechanism of Carthamus tinctorius L. for Liver Fibrosis Based on Network Pharmacology and Molecular Docking Strategy

Carthamus tinctorius L. (Honghua, HH) is an herbal medicine and functional food widely used to treat chronic liver diseases, including fibrosis. By using network pharmacology molecular docking experiments, the present study aims determine bioactive components, potential targets, mechanisms of HH for treating The components were screened from Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database Analysis Platform literature, SwissTargetPrediction database was predict treatment targets HH. Genecards DisGeNET databases contained fibrosis, STRING provided networks protein–protein interactions. Gene ontology Kyoto Encyclopedia Genes Genomes pathway enrichment analyses performed Annotation, Visualization Integrated Discovery. interactive drug–component–major target–pathway visualized analyzed by Cytoscape software. Finally, Autodock Vina Discovery Studio software Validation. A total 23 candidate compounds with 187 acquired literature. 121 overlapping between fibrosis found provide basis on Quercetin, beta carotene, lignan identified as key targeting ESR1, PIK3CA, MTOR. engaged in intervention various signaling cascades associated such PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway, MAPK PPAR pathway. In conclusion, treats through multi-component, multi-target, multi-pathway mechanisms.