A network pharmacology-based study of the potential targets and mechanisms of action of Qibao Meiran Dan in delaying skin aging.

Objective: The aim of this study was to use network pharmacology to explore the potential targets and mechanisms of action of Qibao Meiran Dan in relation to delaying skin aging.

Methods: The traditional Chinese medicine systems pharmacology database and analysis platform, and the traditional Chinese medicine integrated database, were used to screen the active ingredients and targets of Qibao Meiran Dan. The human gene database GeneCards and the gene database of the National Center for Biotechnology Information were jointly adopted to obtain skin aging-related target genes. The search tool for the retrieval of interacting genes/proteins (STRING) database was used for core analysis of protein-protein interaction.

Results: In total, 72 effective active ingredients, 273 action targets, 234 skin aging target genes, and 64 intersecting core targets were identified. GO enrichment analysis provided 393 biological process entries, and the KEGG analysis was represented by the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) signaling pathway, where the core targets of TNF-α and matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) were enriched. The experimental results showed that cell morphology was clearer and more refractive in the Qibao Meiran Dan group than in the model group.

Conclusion: Qibao Meiran Dan may regulate oxidative stress injury and collagen metabolism by downregulating the expression of TNF-α and MMP-1, thus slowing skin aging.