METHODS The active ingredients of Wei-An Powder were screened through databases such as TCMSP and TCM-ID to predict its target of action; potential targets for gastric cancer were screened through databases such as GeneCards and OMIM; after intersecting the target of the active ingredient with the potential target of gastric cancer, a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed using the String11. 0 database, and the PPI network was imported into Cytoscape 3.9.0 software to screen for core targets; GO functional and KEGG metabolic pathway enrichment analysis were performed using the DAVID database to predict the mechanism of action; molecular docking verification was carried out using Pyrx software. Using AGS gastric cancer cells, the analysis results of network pharmacology were validated through ELISA, qPCR, and Western blot experiments.

RESULTS A total of 341 active ingredient targets and 7 031 potential targets for gastric cancer were identified through screening. After taking the intersection, a total of 743 targets for treating gastric cancer with Wei-An Powder were obtained, including core targets TP53, AKT1, TNF, and IL-6. GO and KEGG enrichment analysis showed that Wei-An Powder mainly exerted its effects through the cancer pathway, PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, MAPK signaling pathway, and apoptosis pathway. The molecular docking results indicated that both the core target and the active ingredient had high binding activity. Through cell experiments, it was found that Wei-An Powder could treat gastric cancer by regulating TP53, AKT1, TNF, and IL-6.

CONCLUSION The active ingredients of Wei-An Powder can inhibit the progression of gastric cancer through multiple pathways and targets, providing a reference for subsequent research.