Abstract:Objective:To analyze the potential effect of Shengjiang Xiexin Decoction on ulcerative colitis (UC) based on network pharmacology and in vitro cell experiment. Methods: The active components and related targets of Shengjiang Xiexin Decoction were screened out via Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform (TCMSP). UC disease targets were screened out by GeneGards, Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM), Pharmacogenetics and Pharmacogenomics Knowledge Base (PharmGkb),Therapeutic Target Database (TTD),and Database for Drug and Drug Target (DrugBank). The intersection targets obtained by matching drug targets with disease targets were imported into the Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interaction Gene/Proteins (STRING) to construct the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network,and the drug-component-target-disease network was constructed. The binding of core targets and active components was analyzed by molecular docking, and the damage model of human colorectal adenocarcinoma cell (Caco2 cell) was induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). After the intervention of Shengjiang Xiexin Decoction for 24 hours,the effect of Shengjiang Xiexin Decoction on the core targets was investigated by qPCR and immunofluorescence. Results: There were 215 active components and 171 targets in Shengjiang Xiexin Decoction for the treatment of UC, among which the potential core active components were gingerenone A,quercetin,kaempferol,baicalin and naringin. Core targets included HIF1A, STAT3, CTNNB1, CASP3, AKT1, IL- 1β, TP53, EGFR and JUN. Molecular docking results showed that AKT1,TP53 and IL- 1β could strongly bind with gingerenone A,quercetin, kaempferol, baicalein and naringin. The cell experiment results showed that Shengjiang Xiexin Decoction could interfere with the model of LPS in stimulating Caco2 cells, and significantly inhibit the gene and protein expressions of AKT1,TP53 and IL-1β.