To explore the related targets and signal pathways of epimedium in the treatment of steroid-induced avascular necrosis of femoral head through network pharmacology and molecular docking. The effective components and molecular structures of Epimedium were searched from TCMSP database, and their action targets were predicted. The effective therapeutic targets of steroid-induced avascular necrosis of femoral head were collected in gene cards database and OMIM database. The targets collected by the above two methods are intersected to obtain the intersecting targets, and then the intersecting targets are made into protein-protein interaction networks, which are processed and mapped with cytoscape3.82 software. The intersection targets are enriched and analyzed through Matascape database, and the visualization of data results is completed by using the we chat mapping platform. Carry out molecular docking and visualization of effective components and targets through Autodock software.209 targets related to Epimedium effective components, 1550 targets related to steroid-induced avascular necrosis of femoral head and 128 intersection targets were screened through the above database. The top 5 core targets of PPI analysis value were Jun, AKT1, TP53, MAPK1 and RELA. Through the analysis of KEGG enrichment pathway, it was found that the lipid and atherosclerosis, PI3K-Akt pathway and mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) and other related pathways. The effective components of Epimedium can treat steroid-induced avascular necrosis of femoral head through multiple targets and pathways, which may play a role mainly through apoptosis and cytokine expression.

Rushun Zhao, Kun Zhang, Haodong Qi, Mingyi Yang, Zhi Yang, Yangquan Hao, Chao Lu. Exploring the target and signaling pathway of Epimedium in the treatment of steroid-induced avascular necrosis of femoral head based on network pharmacology and molecular docking. Academic Journal of Medicine & Health Sciences (2023) Vol. 4, Issue 9: 34-42. https://doi.org/10.25236/AJMHS.2023.040906.

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