Abstract:Objective:To analyze the mechanism of Xiao'er Qushi Zhiyang Ointment in the treatment of eczema using network pharmacology and molecular docking technology. Methods: The active components of Xiao'er Qushi Zhiyang Ointment were retrieved from the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform( TCMSP),the Bioinformatics Analysis Tool for Molecular mechANism of Traditional Chinese Medicine( BATMANTCM) database, and literature review. Potential targets of the active components were predicted using the SwissTargetPrediction platform. Eczema-related disease targets were obtained from the GeneCards database. Overlapping targets between the Xiao'er Qushi Zhiyang Ointment and eczema were identified using the Venny website. Then, a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed using the STRING database and visualized with Cytoscape 3.7.1 software. The overlapping targets were subjected to the OmicShare platform for Gene Ontology (GO) functional enrichment analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis. Last, molecular docking between the key components and core targets was performed using AutoDockTools. with results visualized via R language and PyMOL. Results:A total of 899 potential active components of Xiao'er Qushi Zhiyang Ointment and 1 135 eczema-related disease targets were identified, yielding 277 overlapping targets. Key active components included quercetin,apigenin,bergaptol,and patchoulenone. PPI network analysis revealed core targets such as tumor protein p53 (TP53), signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), proto-oncogene tyrosine-protein kinase Src( SRC),AKT serine / threonine kinase 1( AKT1),and JUN. GO enrichment analysis revealed 1 060 biological processes, 109 cellular components, and 235 molecular functions. KEGG pathway enrichment analysis highlighted 172 relevant pathways, primarily involving the AGE-RAGE signaling pathway in diabetic complications,IL-17 signaling pathway,HIF-1 signaling pathway,TNF signaling pathway,and PI3K-AKT signaling pathway. Molecular docking results showed that the binding affinity between core targets and key components was less than -4.5 kcal/mol,indicating spontaneous binding between ligands and receptors. Conclusion:Network pharmacology analysis suggests that the key active components of Xiao'er Qushi Zhiyang Ointment, such as quercetin, apigenin, bergaptol, and patchoulenone, exert therapeutic effects on eczema by acting on targets like TP53, AKT1, JUN, NF-κB, and HIF-1,thereby regulating signaling pathways related to cell growth and apoptosis,senescence,signal transduction,and immunity.