Elucidation of the mechanism of Gualou-Xiebai-Banxia decoction for the treatment of unstable angina based on network pharmacology and molecular docking

Objective: The aim of this study was to identify the potential pharmacological mechanisms of Gualou-Xiebai-Banxia decoction (GLXBBX) against unstable angina (UA). Materials and Methods: The active compounds of GLXBBX were collected from the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform, and their targets were predicted using the SwissTargetPrediction database. The targets associated with UA were obtained from the Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man, GeneCards, and Therapeutic Target Database. Individual targets associated with UA and GLXBBX were cross-checked to identify the targets of GLXBBX involved in the treatment of UA. A protein–protein interaction network was built using the STRING online database. Cytoscape 3.7.2 software was used to screen out hub genes. Additional gene ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analyses were performed using the clusterProfiler package in R. Results: A total of 28 bioactive compounds and 320 protein targets of GLXBBX associated with UA were screened out. Enrichment analysis indicated that the therapeutic effect of GLXBBX may be mediated through the PI3K/AKT, MAPK, and HIF-1 signaling pathways. Molecular docking suggested that the active compounds including Vitamin E, cavidine, and baicalein can bind to their protein receptors. Conclusions: This research confirmed the multifactorial effects of GLXBBX in the treatment of UA and laid the foundation for the experimental research on GLXBBX.