Study on the Mechanism of Xiaoyu Yin in Treating Postoperative Pain based on Network Pharmacology

Abstract

Postoperative pain is a common complication in surgery. Western medicine for pain relief has adverse reactions, while the traditional Chinese medicine Xiaoyu Decoction (derived from the experience of renowned traditional Chinese medicine practitioners) mainly focuses on “activating blood circulation and removing blood stasis”. This study used network pharmacology to explore its mechanism of action. Firstly, compounds and targets of Xiaoyu Decoction were obtained from databases, and after ADME parameter screening, 26 active components and 118 drug targets were obtained. 820 disease targets of postoperative pain were retrieved, and the intersection was taken to obtain 55 potential action targets. A PPI network was constructed to screen out core targets; a compound-target network analysis diagram was constructed to discover key active components. GO and KEGG enrichment analysis showed that the targets were involved in oxidative stress response, apoptosis signaling pathways, etc. In conclusion, Xiaoyu Decoction may treat postoperative pain through the action of multiple components on multiple targets and regulation of multiple pathways, including inhibiting inflammation and regulating apoptosis, providing a basis for its clinical application.